Peter Wilcox, as skipper of the 'Rainbow Warrior', a Greenpeace ship, docks in Auckland, July 1985, preparing for a protest against French nuclear testing in the south pacific. When a bomb rips open the vessel, killing a crew member, he must convince the police superintendent that this is an act of terrorism. Determined not to allow outside forces to threaten their harbor, the police embark on a pursuit of the persons responsible. The events that follow nearly bring down an allied nation's government.
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Reviews
A very good adaptation of the real events that surrounded the Rainbow Warrior bombing with very good performances all round. Sam Neil proves again what a great actor he is as he plays real life Alan Galbraith. Jon Voight does a particularly good turn as skipper Peter Wilcox.The French are quite rightly portrayed as the enemy in this film because they are and notably showed how stupid they were leaving trails for the New Zealand police to follow. They after all in particular Galbraith almost toppled the French government with their discoveries a giant killing act indeed.There are some good scenes in this film some quite surprising. The scene in which the Rongelap man describes his people succumbing to the effects of radiation poisoning following the 1954 15 megaton thermonuclear 'Bravo' shot on Bikini is one of the most disturbing descriptions that I have ever heard. All in all a good film and a good purchase on DVD.
This has just been released on DVD in Australia in a quite reasonable transfer but without any extras and unfortunately an incomplete cast list. Filmed mostly in Auckland it has a good air of realism and the French in particular are portrayed with a scurrilous and arrogant demeanor as befits the event. Sam Neill is excellent as the Police Chief but Jon Voight is weak in an otherwise more than adequate cast. The coastal and sea photography is good and there only minimal fill shots. As terrorism becomes an increasing issue, this dramatization of a real event shows what lengths states will go to when they feel their legitimate interests are threatened. I enjoyed it as did several of my fiends who viewed it. Recommended.
This was a film that, because it is based on fact, is thought-provoking and a bit unnerving. While not fantastic, this film still enters a realm of human behavior and politics that makes it interesting. I found Jon Voight's character a bit annoying (perhaps I am being a bit harsh... I've never been a huge fan of his), but one who stood for what he believed. Sam Neill does indeed put in a good performance (no surprise there), and I found myself rooting for his character. On the whole, the movie was good, and made me rethink everything I ever thought about government, civil defense, and politics. It is a film that will open your eyes, and you may not like what you see. Thank God there are people out there who really do seek the truth, and demand justice!
