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Top of the Lake

  • TV Series
  • 2013–20172013–2017
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
35K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,263
24
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Elisabeth Moss in Top of the Lake (2013)
Detective Robin Griffin has returned to Sydney and is trying to rebuild her life. When the body of an Asian girl washes up on Bondi Beach, there appears little hope of finding the killer, until Robin realizes "China Girl" didn't die alone. Robin looks to the investigation to restore herself, but her problems are personal. Haunted by a daughter given up at birth, Robin desperately wants to find her, yet dreads revealing the truth of her conception. But her search to discover "China Girl's" identity will take her into the city's darkest recesses and closer than she could have imagined to the secrets of her own heart.
Play trailer1:34
8 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

Obsessed with the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl near a freezing lake in New Zealand, a brave detective will find herself up against small-town secrets and a side of herself th... Read allObsessed with the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl near a freezing lake in New Zealand, a brave detective will find herself up against small-town secrets and a side of herself that was meticulously kept at bay.Obsessed with the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl near a freezing lake in New Zealand, a brave detective will find herself up against small-town secrets and a side of herself that was meticulously kept at bay.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
35K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,263
24
  • Creators
    • Jane Campion
    • Gerard Lee
  • Stars
    • Elisabeth Moss
    • David Wenham
    • Peter Mullan
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Jane Campion
    • Gerard Lee
  • Stars
    • Elisabeth Moss
    • David Wenham
    • Peter Mullan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 197User reviews
    • 74Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 20 wins & 75 nominations total

    Episodes13

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos8

    A Guide to the Films of Jane Campion
    Clip 1:54
    A Guide to the Films of Jane Campion
    Robin and Tui: Interrogation
    Clip 1:45
    Robin and Tui: Interrogation
    GJ and Tui: "What Happened?"
    Clip 1:11
    GJ and Tui: "What Happened?"
    Season 2 Trailer
    Trailer 1:34
    Season 2 Trailer
    First Look
    Trailer 1:01
    First Look
    Top of the Lake
    Trailer 1:41
    Top of the Lake
    Top Of The Lake
    Trailer 1:35
    Top Of The Lake
    Top Of The Lake: Season 2
    Trailer 1:34
    Top Of The Lake: Season 2

    Photos588

    Top of the Lake (2013)
    Ewen Leslie and Alice Englert in Top of the Lake (2013)
    David Dencik, Alice Englert, Linda Ngo, Michelle Ny, Sereena Soraya Damanhuri, Merlynn Tong, Angjee Douangphoumy, Sereena, and Kim Chuvitsakullert in Top of the Lake (2013)
    Elisabeth Moss and Alice Englert in Top of the Lake (2013)
    David Dencik and Alice Englert in Top of the Lake (2013)
    Nicole Kidman and Alice Englert in Top of the Lake (2013)
    Gwendoline Christie in Top of the Lake (2013)
    Top of the Lake (2013)
    Elisabeth Moss and Ben Wood in Top of the Lake (2013)
    David Dencik and Alice Englert in Top of the Lake (2013)
    Elisabeth Moss in Top of the Lake (2013)
    Elisabeth Moss in Top of the Lake (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elisabeth Moss
    Elisabeth Moss
    • Robin Griffinas Robin Griffin
    13 episodes13 eps • 2013–2017
    David Wenham
    David Wenham
    • Al Parkeras Al Parker
    8 episodes8 eps • 2013–2017
    Peter Mullan
    Peter Mullan
    • Mattas Matt
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013
    Thomas M. Wright
    Thomas M. Wright
    • Johnnoas Johnno
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013
    Skye Wansey
    Skye Wansey
    • Grishinaas Grishina
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013
    Geneviève Lemon
    • Bunnyas Bunny
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013
    Robyn Malcolm
    Robyn Malcolm
    • Anitaas Anita
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013
    Kip Chapman
    Kip Chapman
    • Lukeas Luke
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013–2017
    Jacqueline Joe
    Jacqueline Joe
    • Tuias Tui
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013–2017
    Ewen Leslie
    Ewen Leslie
    • Pykeas Pyke…
    7 episodes7 eps • 2013–2017
    Gwendoline Christie
    Gwendoline Christie
    • Miranda Hilmarsonas Miranda Hilmarson
    6 episodes6 eps • 2017
    Alice Englert
    Alice Englert
    • Maryas Mary
    6 episodes6 eps • 2017
    Sarah Valentine
    Sarah Valentine
    • Prueas Prue
    6 episodes6 eps • 2013
    Madeleine Sami
    Madeleine Sami
    • Zenaas Zena
    6 episodes6 eps • 2013
    Clayton Jacobson
    Clayton Jacobson
    • Adrian Butleras Adrian Butler
    6 episodes6 eps • 2017
    Jay Ryan
    Jay Ryan
    • Markas Mark
    6 episodes6 eps • 2013
    David Dencik
    David Dencik
    • Alexander 'Puss'as Alexander 'Puss'
    6 episodes6 eps • 2017
    Alison Bruce
    Alison Bruce
    • Anne-Marieas Anne-Marie
    6 episodes6 eps • 2013
    • Creators
      • Jane Campion
      • Gerard Lee
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Twelve year old Tui Mitcham, daughter of the local drug lord, is pulled from the freezing waters of a South Island lake in New Zealand. She is discovered to be pregnant and won't say who the father is. Then she disappears. Robin Griffin is a gutsy but inexperienced detective called in to investigate. But as Robin becomes more and more obsessed with the search for Tui, she slowly begins to realise that finding the girl is tantamount to finding herself - a self she has kept well-hidden.
    • child rape
    • female detective
    • lake
    • new zealand
    • return to hometown
    • 27 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • No ordinary place. No ordinary crime.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • TV-MA
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jane Campion offered her The Piano (1993) star Anna Paquin the leading role of Robin Griffin, but Paquin declined due to her pregnancy.
    • Alternate versions
      The miniseries is approximately 360 minutes long. In the US the show first aired on the Sundance Channel divided into 7 untitled episodes (of variable length between 49 and 53 mins each); in the UK and new Zealand, the show aired as 6 one-hour episodes. The titles of the UK episodes are: 1.1 Paradise Sold 1.2 Searchers Search 1.3 The Edge of the Universe 1.4 A Rainbow Above Us 1.5 The Dark Creator 1.6 No Goodbyes Thanks
    • Connections
      Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #7.39 (2013)

    User reviews197

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Terrific and Haunting
    Top of the Lake follows you around long after you've finished an episode (or the entire series, for that matter). It operates with a sophisticated sense of naturalism, which probably initially alienated many viewers begging to be bashed over the head with plot details. This is not simply a subtle noir, but a meditation on identity, which provides the necessary ammunition for some powerful performances from Elisabeth Moss, David Wenham, Peter Mullan and Holly Hunter, as well as others.

    This is an atmospheric detective story, not an action-packed whodunnit. You will find yourself both disgusted with and moved by humanity as the finale's credits roll.
    helpful•43
    27
    • DinosaurAct86
    • Jul 10, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 18, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Site [France]
    • Languages
      • English
      • Thai
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Top of the Lake: China Girl
    • Filming locations
      • Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand
    • Production companies
      • See-Saw Films
      • Escapade Pictures
      • Screen Australia
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1
      • 16:9 HD

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