Hope and Wire

Without giving anything away, this first-rate drama seamlessly interweaves footage of the earthquake with stories of fictional characters who are nonetheless representative of a cross section of people who live in Christchurch. The editor has done a first-rate job and the series is beautifully photographed. The acting, screenplay and production are credible and there are particularly strong performances from Bernard Hill, Rachel House, Chelsie Preston Crayford, Luanne Gordon, Lucy Wyma and Miriama McDowell. For those of us who have lived in Christchurch, some of the footage is heart-rending. The series is a tribute to the courage and resilience of the people of Christchurch but also to the talents of writer and director Gaylene Preston.