"Social Climbers" throws together three generations of New Zealand women, confines them in one room, dims the lights and rips open the wine cask.

A group of high school teachers and the reluctant daughter of one of them undertake a mid-term break tramping expedition.

Matters become complicated when a bridge-washout maroons the unlikely group in a hut void of home comforts. Armed with wit and wine cask, they hunker down for a "girls-night-out" of a very different sort.

The women share much laughter and tears as they reveal some of the hurt and hope in their lives.