Pioneer ★★★

PIONEER is a 2013 Norwegian drama set against the actual backdrop of the 1980s’ development of the country’s offshore oil industry.

Brothers Petter and Knut are commercial deep sea divers involved in a joint experimentation program between the Norwegian government and American oil interests.

The program is seeking ways to ensure divers can, for the first time in history, descend to depths of up to 500 metres in order to safely perform pipeline work.

The stakes are incredibly high. Vast amounts of oil have been discovered and the only way to properly exploit the riches involved is to get the oil to shore via pipelines laid at previously unheard of depths.

As if the tension and drama involved in this endeavour is not enough, the film adds a thriller plot with Petter investigating the circumstances of a diver’s death and a potential conspiracy of deceit and cover-up.

What I enjoyed most about Pioneer was the depiction of the uncertainty and tension surrounding the  testing and the actual deep sea diving. The 1980s setting is nicely depicted and helps depict the pioneering and dangerous nature of the work.

The thriller plot that takes over the film’s second act is not as interesting, but the end credits reveal that there was actual investigation into some of the experimentation involved adds a further appreciation of this story.

Acting is excellent, headed by Norwegian Aksel Hennie who also stars in Headhunters, a terrific 2011 thriller based on a Jo Nesbo novel.

Pioneer is apparently being remade with George Clooney in the lead role.