Review: Pioneer

Inspired by actual events, Pioneer is set in the early 1980's when the Norwegian oil boom was in its infancy. Oil has been discovered in the North Sea; U.S. and Norwegian officials have allied in hopes of laying down a pipeline that will transport the oil from sea to shore. Before the project can move forward, a verification test must be conducted to prove that divers can reach and work in the required depths.

Early scenes introduce siblings Petter (Aksel Hennie) and Knut (André Eriksen), Jørgen (David A. Jørgensen), and American Mike (Wes Bentley) as they sit inside a pressure chamber, their reactions monitored as pressure is simulated to 500 meters below sea level. Red flags are raised when the Americans, who have developed a gas to help divers breathe in deeper depths, sequester Mike in a separate chamber, leaving the Norwegians exposed to hallucinations.

Any doubts are swept aside as the verification dive is greenlit. The diving bell is plunged into the darkness of the North Sea, Petter and Knut traverse the ocean bed to reach the habitat; once inside, the water is drained, the pressure is maintained, and then something goes horribly wrong. In the film's most intense scene, the onrush of water smashes Knut's oxygen mask, forcing Petter to outfit him with his and swim back to the diving bell without an oxygen mask as he drags his unsconscious brother beside him. Petter survives but Knut does not, and both the Americans and Norwegians are intent on glossing over what they deem a bad case of human error.

Remake rights for Pioneer have already been secured by George Clooney and his writing/producing partner Grant Heslov; no surprise given Pioneer evolving into a conspiracy thriller as Petter attempts to uncover who is truly responsible for his brother's death. Pioneer is very much a throwback to Seventies thrillers like The Parallax View, The Conversation, Three Days of the Condor, and All the President's Men, though it doesn't quite reverberate with the same sense of paranoia as those classics. Still, it's heartening to witness the return of director Erik Skjoldbjærg, whose 1997 psychological suspenser Insomnia was at the vanguard of the Nordic Noir craze. Skjoldbjærg possesses a fine touch for atmosphere and tension, well-evidenced by the underwater sequences that are both breathtaking and terrifying.

Though most of the characters barely rise above stock level, the actor manage to bring some ambiguity, increasing the level of distrust. Hennis cuts a convincing figure as the reckless and obstinate Petter. If this is the first time you've seen him, do yourself a favour and watch 2011's Headhunters, a crafty crime thriller that showcases his skills and versatility.

Worth a mention: French duo Air's expert and memorable score, Jallo Faber's smooth camerawork, and convincingly old-school production design by Karl Juliusson.

Pioneer

Directed by: Erik Skjoldbjærg

Written by: Nikolaj Frobenius, Hans Gunnarsson, Cathinka Nicolaysen, Erik Skjoldbjærg, Kathrine Valen Zeiner

Starring: Aksel Hennie, Wes Bentley, Stephen Lang, Jonathan LaPaglia, André Eriksen, Jørgen Langhelle, David A. Jørgensen, Ane Dahl Torp, Stephanie Sigman