H2O (film)
Encyclopedia
H2O is a Canadian political drama
two-part miniseries
that first aired on the CBC Television
October 31, 2004. It starred Paul Gross
and Leslie Hope
, with former politician Belinda Stronach
making a cameo appearance
. Written by Gross and John Krizanc
and directed by Charles Binamé
, it was nominated for five Gemini Award
s and four DGC Craft Awards. It won one Golden Nymph Award for best actor (Paul Gross).
dies in a canoeing accident, his son, Tom McLaughlin (Paul Gross), goes into politics and ultimately becomes Prime Minister. The investigation into his father's death, however, reveals that it was no accident, raising the possibility of assassination. Tom accepts the U.S. President
's plan to divert part of the Great Lakes
to help the United States with their water shortage. Sgt. Leah Collins (Leslie Hope) and Member of Parliament
Marc Lavigne (Guy Nadon
) slowly piece together evidence of a conspiracy
that threatens Canada's existence.
, featuring McLaughlin's continuing political ambitions and struggles in the wake of the events of H2O, premiered on CBC
on Sunday, 30 March 2008.
Political drama
A political drama can describe a play, film or TV program that has a political component, whether reflecting the author's political opinion, or describing a politician or series of political events. Dramatists who have written political dramas include Aaron Sorkin, Robert Penn Warren, Sergei...
two-part miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
that first aired on the CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
October 31, 2004. It starred Paul Gross
Paul Gross
Paul Michael Gross is a Canadian actor, producer, director, singer and writer born in Calgary, Alberta. He is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the television series Due South as well as his 2008 war film Passchendaele, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in...
and Leslie Hope
Leslie Hope
Leslie Ann Hope is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Teri Bauer in the Fox show 24 where she played the wife of the main character Jack Bauer.-Life and career:...
, with former politician Belinda Stronach
Belinda Stronach
Belinda Caroline Stronach, PC is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and former politician. She was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. Originally elected as a Conservative, she later crossed the floor to join the Liberals...
making a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
. Written by Gross and John Krizanc
John Krizanc
John Krizanc is a Canadian playwright who established an international reputation with his non-linear work, Tamara. Its Toronto production won him a Dora Mavor Moore Award in 1982.-Writing career:...
and directed by Charles Binamé
Charles Binamé
Charles Binamé is a Quebec director. He was born in Belgium and came to Montreal with his family at a young age. In 1971, he began work as an assistant director with the National Film Board of Canada. During the 1980s, he directed commercials in England...
, it was nominated for five Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
s and four DGC Craft Awards. It won one Golden Nymph Award for best actor (Paul Gross).
Plot
When the Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
dies in a canoeing accident, his son, Tom McLaughlin (Paul Gross), goes into politics and ultimately becomes Prime Minister. The investigation into his father's death, however, reveals that it was no accident, raising the possibility of assassination. Tom accepts the U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
's plan to divert part of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
to help the United States with their water shortage. Sgt. Leah Collins (Leslie Hope) and Member of Parliament
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
Marc Lavigne (Guy Nadon
Guy Nadon
Guy Nadon, CM is a French-Canadian actor. Despite his most English-language popular role arguably being H2O, his other works have been in his first language of French. In 2010, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.-Film:External links...
) slowly piece together evidence of a conspiracy
Conspiracy (political)
In a political sense, conspiracy refers to a group of persons united in the goal of usurping or overthrowing an established political power. Typically, the final goal is to gain power through a revolutionary coup d'état or through assassination....
that threatens Canada's existence.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Gross Paul Gross Paul Michael Gross is a Canadian actor, producer, director, singer and writer born in Calgary, Alberta. He is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the television series Due South as well as his 2008 war film Passchendaele, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in... |
Thomas David McLaughlin |
| Leslie Hope Leslie Hope Leslie Ann Hope is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Teri Bauer in the Fox show 24 where she played the wife of the main character Jack Bauer.-Life and career:... |
Sgt. Leah Collins |
| Guy Nadon Guy Nadon Guy Nadon, CM is a French-Canadian actor. Despite his most English-language popular role arguably being H2O, his other works have been in his first language of French. In 2010, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.-Film:External links... |
Marc Lavigne |
| Martha Henry Martha Henry Martha Henry, is a Canadian stage, film, and television actress, who is best known for her appearances at the Stratford Festival.-Background:... |
Julia McLaughlin |
| Callum Keith Rennie Callum Keith Rennie Callum Keith Rennie is a British-born Canadian television and film actor. He started his career in Canadian film and television projects, where his portrayal of Stanley Raymond Kowalski in the TV series Due South was his first international success... |
Don Pritchard / Lt. Daniel Holt |
| Michael Murphy Michael Murphy (actor) Michael George Murphy is an American film and television actor.-Career:Murphy played Woody Allen's duplicitous friend Yale in the film Manhattan... |
U.S. Ambassador Conrad |
| Barry Flatman Barry Flatman Barry Flatman is a Canadian actor. He has appeared in many film and television roles such as Rideau Hall in which he plays a fictional Prime Minister of Canada. His other works include My Name is Tanino, The Company, Saw 3, Just Friends, H2O, and most recently in the 2008 A&E's miniseries The... |
Cam Ritchie |
| Louise Portal Louise Portal Louise Portal is a Canadian actress, film director, singer and writer. She won the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film The Decline of the American Empire, and was a nominee for Best Actress for Sous-sol.Her other film roles have included Séraphin: un homme et son... |
Marie Lavigne |
| Philip Akin Philip Akin Philip Akin is a Canadian actor who has been active for over thirty years in stage, film, and television. He has had featured roles in major American films such as The Sum of All Fears, S.W.A.T., and Get Rich or Die Tryin’... |
U.S. President Monroe |
| Macha Grenon | Lavigne's Aide |
| Peter MacNeill Peter MacNeill Peter MacNeill is a Canadian film and television actor who has starred in several TV shows and movies.His film credits have included The Hanging Garden , Geraldine's Fortune, Giant Mine, Lives of Girls and Women, The Events Leading Up to My Death, Dog Park, Something Beneath and A... |
Police Chief |
| Jeff Pustil | Deever |
| Tantoo Cardinal Tantoo Cardinal Rose Marie "Tantoo" Cardinal, CM is a Canadian film and television actress.-Career:Cardinal was born in Anzac, Fort McMurray, Alberta. Her mother, Julia Cardinal, was a Métis of Cree descent... |
Grand Chief Katie Blackfire |
| Diego Matamoros | Doug McKay |
| Jeff Seymour Jeff Seymour Jeff Seymour is an American-Canadian actor, best known for his roles in television series such as Show Me Yours, Jeff Ltd., The Eleventh Hour and Being Erica.... |
Nate Morgan |
Location
Filming took place all over the city of Ottawa. Some the bigger locations included Earnscliffe and The Parliament Buildings.Sequel
The Trojan HorseThe Trojan Horse (miniseries)
The Trojan Horse is a Canadian political drama two-part miniseries that first aired on CBC Television on 30 March 2008. It is a sequel to the 2004 miniseries, H2O. It starred Paul Gross, Greta Scacchi and Tom Skerritt...
, featuring McLaughlin's continuing political ambitions and struggles in the wake of the events of H2O, premiered on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
on Sunday, 30 March 2008.