On November 19, 2010, a massive explosion trapped 31 men in the Pike River mine. Initial chaos gave way to the grim reality that, after two initial escapes, 29 men remained missing. For five days, their families and loved ones held onto hope. But two further explosions sealed their fate. The film explores the tragic history of the mine, revealing how the pursuit of profit decades earlier set the stage for this devastating loss of life. Through interviews with the Pike River families and scripted drama, the film depicts the events of those five days.