The series "Lake Top", reviews of which are collected in this article, is a joint work of English and Australian producers. The first season was released back in 2013, in the summer of 2017, the second season started.
Season 1 Filming
When the first season of the series "Lake Top" was just launched into production, positive feedback was expected from the audience. Much has been done for this. Careful work was done on the selection of actors. In Russian, there are several translation options for its name, including "Mountain Lake".
For the role of JJ claimed two-time winner of the Tony Award Jennifer El, but in the end this image went to Holly Hunter.
The creator, New Zealand writer Jane Campion, offered to play detective Robin Griffin to her compatriot Anna Paquin, who many remember in the historical melodrama The Piano. However, on the eve of the filming, it became known that Paquin was pregnant, then the American Elizabeth Moss acted as a detective.
The series was planned to be shot in conjunction with the Australian National Broadcasting Public Corporation ABC. But after the American got the main role, the company left the project. As a result, the Australian television channel UKTV agreed to finance the shooting.
The first season was shot four and a half months in the New Zealand Otago district. They worked in the cities of Glenorchi and Queenstown. The scenes in which the female community was shown were filmed on Lake Moke.
Work on the second season
Initially, the creator of Campion officially stated that it reached its logical conclusion the series "Lake Top". The reviews after the first season were so good that it was decided to shoot the second. We started filming in Sydney.
The main composition of the crew remained unchanged. Among the actors, the famous Nicole Kidman joined the work on the series. She got the image of an Australian mother, whose fate is closely intertwined with the biography of detective Robin Griffin.
In 2017, at the Cannes Film Festival , the premiere of the series "Lake Tops", (season 2), took place. The picture received very high reviews, so many television channels immediately became interested in the opportunity to demonstrate this film in their own country.
Actors and roles
The series "Lake Top" received positive reviews in many respects, thanks to the original and non-trivial characters.
In the center of the story is detective Robin Griffin. She is from Sydney, specializing in sex crimes in her work. At the beginning of the series, she arrives in her hometown of Leuktop, which is located in New Zealand. Her mother was seriously ill. At the same time, a little girl, who is only 12 years old, disappears. It turns out that she was pregnant. Robin agrees to investigate. It will make the heroine remember many terrible events that happened to her in her teenage years. The role of the detective was played by American Elizabeth Moss.
Sergeant Al Parker helps her in the investigation. He is a conservative, a supporter of traditional methods in work. He is known and loved by locals. He also oversees a special cafe where he hires exceptionally difficult teenagers. This role was played by the Australian David Wenham, known in the image of Faramir in The Lord of the Rings, Neil Fletcher in the drama Australia, Carl in the mystical action movie Van Helsing.
An important role in the plot is actually played by the master of the city, Matt Mitchem. He is a Scot by nationality, with serious mental problems, which is why many are afraid of him. This role went to Peter Mullan, who can be remembered for the films "Child of Man", "On the Needle", "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." In the reviews of the series "Lake Top", actors are always given special attention.
The spiritual leader of the town is JJ performed by Holly Hunter. Not far from the city, she founded a women's community, which appeals to those who have experienced serious psychological and emotional trauma.
Film crew
In reviews of the series "Lake Top", viewers and critics note the highly professional work of everyone who works on this project.
For its creator, Jane Campion is not the first cinematic experience. In 1993, her historical melodrama "Piano" became the owner of the Golden Palm Branch of the Cannes Film Festival in the nomination "Best Film".
Campion herself co-wrote the script with Gerard Lee. Executive producers Ian Canning, Jamie Lorenson, Emily Sherman did a lot of work on the organization and promotion of the film, and Campion also helped them.
TV series reviews
The series "Mountain Lake" reviews and reviews collected mostly positive. Critics did not skimp on enthusiastic epithets - "exciting", "mysterious", "masterfully made masterpiece."
The series was very popular in feminist circles for trying to maximize analyze and explore the phenomenon of rape. And also because the plot of the series is largely based on the stories of psychologically traumatized women.
True, there were also negative opinions. The creators of the series have been criticized for over-escalating the problem of male hegemony in society.
The plot of the series
"Mountain Lake" (Top of the Lake) reviews began to collect good after the release of the first series of the first season. In it, in a small New Zealand town, 12-year-old Tui Mitchem is trying to commit suicide. She wants to drown, but she is saved by a school nurse who is passing by at this moment. After talking with the girl and having examined, she realizes that Tui is pregnant.
At the same time, the police officer Griffin, who came to visit her mother, was in the city. She decides to help local detectives sort out the teenager’s case.
But Robin fails to meet her. She meets two women from the JJ community who say that Tui spent the night with them, and in the morning she left in an unknown direction. A rescue operation begins in the city.
During the investigation, Robin enters the lake, she is visited by a vision, she begins to see the same thing that Tui saw. In the evening of the same for she checks a local resident, previously convicted of pedophilia. Not having calculated his strength, he is in danger, only Johnno Mitch, the son of Matt, with whom Robin was in love many years ago, saves her. At the moment, he broke all ties with his father, he also returned to Leuktop recently, having spent 8 years in a Thai prison for drug possession.
Robin in Paradise
"Lake Top" is a television series in which much attention is paid to the problems of women who have fallen into difficult life situations. In the vicinity of Leuktop, there is even a special community to help such women. It is called "Paradise."
Interrogation of the community leader does not lead to anything. JJ answers all questions with obscure riddles.
The details of the case Robin discusses with his partner Al. According to her version, the note that Tui left indicates that the girl was gang-raped. Al does not support her in this, believing that Robin is too obsessed with this matter, due to the fact that she herself was a victim of gang rape in her teens.
Confessions of John
Johnno, in conversation with Robin, confesses to her that the night she was raped, he was nearby, but did nothing to prevent this. He explains this by the fact that he was very scared.
At this time, Matt's people, set off in search of Tui, receive evidence that the girl is alive. A phone with photos of a lively and healthy girl is provided by Robin.
The Case Against Matt
Robin plans to initiate a case against Matt, who is involved in the production of drugs. She suspects a girl because of this and is afraid to return. Johnno dissuades her from this in every way. According to him, half a city works for Matt, and she will only make enemies for herself.
Robin is still trying to convince women involved in drug production to testify. But they refuse to cooperate with the police. Soon after, someone shoots Robin through the window, forcing her to refuse further investigation.
All this time Tui is in a secret refuge. Friends go to congratulate her on her birthday, but fall into the hands of Matt's people, who force them to tell where the girl is hiding.
Shortly before the appointed date of birth, Tui is still on the run. Robin, however, claims Matt, who promises to make an official statement and admit that he did. However, this is not the recognition that Robin hoped to receive. It shockes her and finally forces her to break off relations with Johnno.
Armed Matt sets off in search of his daughter, Robin tries to stop him so that the irreparable does not happen.