Top of the Lake

About Top of the Lake

"Top of the Lake" is a mystery drama television series that was first released in 2013. Written by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, the series takes place in a stingingly unsentimental vision of New Zealand, where a dull town is dominated by toxic masculinity and secrets. The central storyline concerns the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl, Tui Mitcham.

Making / Production

The series is a joint UK, Australia and US production by BBC Two, UKTV, and SundanceTV. It boasts the standout direction of Jane Campion and Garth Davis. The enchanting scenes are shot on location in the mountainous and lush landscapes of New Zealand, providing the show an eerie and beautiful backdrop that complements its dark theme.

Actors

• Elisabeth Moss plays Detective Robin Griffin, who with a complicated history, returns to her hometown and gets wrapped up in the case of missing Tui.
• David Wenham as Al Parker, Robin’s boss with suspect loyalties who tries to temper her obsessive commitment to the Tui case.
• Peter Mullan portrays Matt Mitcham, a local drug baron and father of Tui who projects an intimidating presence in this small community.
• Thomas M. Wright plays Johnno Mitcham, brother to Tui and romantic interest to Robin, trying to escape from his tormented family’s shadow.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series was filmed on location in Queenstown and Glenorchy, in New Zealand.
• Even though it is Elisabeth Moss's voice, her character's spoken dialogue had to be dubbed over again for the mini-series to neutralize her American accent.
• Apart from being a compelling drama, the series also comments on gender and societal norms.

Awards

"Top of the Lake" has been honoured with multiple awards and nominations. It won a Golden Globe for Best performance by an Actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for television (Elisabeth Moss). The show and cast have also received multiple nominations from the Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.

Quotes

• Robin Griffin: "The world has gone mad."
• Al Parker: "You’re too gut involved."
• Johnno Mitcham: "She knows, dad! She knows everything!"

Music, Soundtrack

• The unnerving title music "The Retrograde" is by musician and composer Mark Bradshaw.
• The complex music score by Mark Bradshaw is instrumental in creating the series’ eerie and mysterious mood.