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Random Passage (2001)
| Synopsis | Random Passage on IMDB |
Synopsis
The compelling story of Mary Bundle's journey from indenture in England to St. Johns, Newfoundland, and her subsequent struggle against enormous odds to carve out a life in the New WorldMary's story is told in the eight-hour mini-series RANDOM PASSAGE. It marks the reunion of director John N. Smith and writer Des Walsh, the creative team behind The Boys of St. Vincent, the award-winning mini-series also set in Newfoundland.
Filmed almost entirely in Newfoundland, RANDOM PASSAGE is based on the best-selling novels Random Passages and Waiting for Time by Bernice Morgan. Mary Bundle's journey to Newfoundland begins with the land clearances in Ireland, resulting in upheaval and starvation. Among the victims is Mary's mother. Orphaned at eight, Mary is sent to an English workhouse. Later she is sold into domestic service and send to Newfoundland. After a turbulent stint in rough-and-tumble St. John's, Mary inadvertently arrives in the isolated fishing station of Cape Random. It is the beginning of a new chapter in her fight to survive.
Perched on the edge of the frigid Atlantic, Cape Random at first offers no welcome to Mary and her baby. Instead she finds a collection of exiles like the Andrews family and Thomas Hutchings, people escaping their pasts and desperately seeking a better life. As they struggle to carve an existence from the harsh environment, they grow into a community. The people of Cape Random participate in a human drama where love, hatred and compassion are played out against a backdrop of the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean.
RANDOM PASSAGE stars Irish actors Colm Meaney and Aoife McMahon. Canadian talent includes Deborah Pollitt, Daniel Payne, Brenda Devine, Michael Sapieha, Jessica Pare, Mary Walsh and Andy Jones.
RANDOM PASSAGE is produced by Lorraine Richard (Cite-Amerique Cinema-Television, Quebec), Barbara Doran and Jennice Ripley (Passage Films, Canada), Tristan Orpen Lynch (Subotica, Ireland), Leslie Kelly (Full Work Media (Ireland) in association with CBC Television and with the participation of RTE Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corp, Government of Canada Tax Credit Program, Newfoundland and Labrador Film and Video Industry Tax Credit, Quebec Tax Credit Program.