The Trojan Horse (miniseries)
Encyclopedia
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
. It was directed by Charles Binamé
.
is being held to decide whether or not Canada will join the United States
. The people of Canada vote to join the U.S., while Prime Minister
Tom McLaughlin (Paul Gross
) watches the results on the news. Sitting at the house of former Prime Minister Marc Lavigne (Guy Nadon
; from H2O
), he plots revenge, stating that one day, he would tell Lavigne the fable of "The Mouse and the Frog".
Two years pass, at which point the film resumes. Canada has been split into six states (British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Terra Nova), each with electoral votes, and representation in Congress. The story proceeds to focus on three major storylines: Tom McLaughlin attempting to reshape his political career and ascend to the presidency
; reporter Helen Madigan (Greta Scacchi
) uncovering elements of political intrigue as she follows leads into the murder of her estranged son; and U.S. President Stanfield (Tom Skerritt
) using any means necessary to justify an invasion of Saudi Arabia in order to halt China's oil supply.
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 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...
on 30 March 2008. It is a sequel to the 2004 miniseries, H2O
H2O (film)
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...
. 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...
, Greta Scacchi
Greta Scacchi
Greta Scacchi is an Italian-Australian actor.-Early life:Scacchi was born Greta Gracco in Milan, Italy, on 18 February 1960, the daughter of Luca Scacchi Gracco, an Italian art dealer and painter, and Pamela Carsaniga, an English dancer and antiques dealer...
and Tom Skerritt
Tom Skerritt
Thomas Roy "Tom" Skerritt is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962.-Early life:...
. It was 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...
.
Plot
The story begins while a nationwide referendumReferendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
is being held to decide whether or not Canada will join the United States
Annexationist movements of Canada
From the Independence of the United States of America until today, various annexationist movements in Canada have campaigned in favour of U.S. annexation of parts or all of Canada...
. The people of Canada vote to join the U.S., while Prime Minister
Prime 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...
Tom McLaughlin (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...
) watches the results on the news. Sitting at the house of former Prime Minister 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...
; from H2O
H2O (film)
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...
), he plots revenge, stating that one day, he would tell Lavigne the fable of "The Mouse and the Frog".
Two years pass, at which point the film resumes. Canada has been split into six states (British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Terra Nova), each with electoral votes, and representation in Congress. The story proceeds to focus on three major storylines: Tom McLaughlin attempting to reshape his political career and ascend to the presidency
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....
; reporter Helen Madigan (Greta Scacchi
Greta Scacchi
Greta Scacchi is an Italian-Australian actor.-Early life:Scacchi was born Greta Gracco in Milan, Italy, on 18 February 1960, the daughter of Luca Scacchi Gracco, an Italian art dealer and painter, and Pamela Carsaniga, an English dancer and antiques dealer...
) uncovering elements of political intrigue as she follows leads into the murder of her estranged son; and U.S. President Stanfield (Tom Skerritt
Tom Skerritt
Thomas Roy "Tom" Skerritt is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962.-Early life:...
) using any means necessary to justify an invasion of Saudi Arabia in order to halt China's oil supply.
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 |
| Greta Scacchi Greta Scacchi Greta Scacchi is an Italian-Australian actor.-Early life:Scacchi was born Greta Gracco in Milan, Italy, on 18 February 1960, the daughter of Luca Scacchi Gracco, an Italian art dealer and painter, and Pamela Carsaniga, an English dancer and antiques dealer... |
Helen Madigan |
| Tom Skerritt Tom Skerritt Thomas Roy "Tom" Skerritt is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962.-Early life:... |
President Stanfield |
| Martha Burns Martha Burns Martha Burns is an award-winning Canadian actress known for her stage work and youth outreach in Ontario and her leading role as Ellen Fanshaw in the TV dramedy series Slings and Arrows.Burns was born 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba... |
Mary Miller |
| Clark Johnson Clark Johnson Clark Johnson , sometimes credited as Clark 'Slappy' Jackson, Clarque Johnson, and J. Clark Johnson, is an American actor and director who has worked in both television and film.-Early years:... |
John Neelon |
| Saul Rubinek Saul Rubinek Saul Rubinek is a Canadian actor, director, producer and playwright, known for his work in TV, film and the stage.-Early life:... |
Rafe Kott |
| Rachael Crawford Rachael Crawford Rachael Crawford is an actress known primarily for her role in Show Me Yours as Dr. Kate Langford... |
Colleen Howell |
| Kenneth Welsh Kenneth Welsh Kenneth Welsh, CM is a Canadian film and television actor . He is known to Twin Peaks fans as the multi-faceted villain Windom Earle, and has more recently played the father of Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator.In 1984 he was nominated for a Genie Award as Best Actor for his... |
Randall Spear |
| William Hutt William Hutt (actor) William Ian DeWitt Hutt, was a Canadian actor of stage, television and film. Hutt's distinguished career spanned more than fifty years and won him many accolades and awards... |
Miles Fortnum (of MI6) |
| Stephen McHattie Stephen McHattie Stephen McHattie is a Canadian actor.-Life and career:McHattie was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.... |
Jack Shea |