H2O

Most Americans are benignly unaware of the Canadian politics going on above us, but "H2O" is a Canadian political thriller that posits some interesting questions: What if Canada began shipping its water south to the United States? Why would they do this? And why are Canada and the United States two separate countries at all?The movie opens with the Canadian Prime Minister (PM) being killed in a canoeing accident (if he were American, he would have been shot or died in a plane crash, but since he's Canadian, he dies in a canoeing accident!), and his son taking over as PM for an interim period. As the story progresses, we learn that the grief-stricken son is not quite as noble as he looks, and there is a plot afoot to use the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to facilitate the cross-border shipments of fresh water from the Great Lakes to the perpetually thirsty American southwest.I won't give away any more of the plot, but speaking as a person who is somewhat knowledgeable about international water resources politics (a colleague and I wrote an academic paper about North American water exports around the time this film was made), I wished the story had more to do with the actual environmental realities surrounding fresh water exports than with Canadian inter-party politics. Yes, the terms of NAFTA specify that once water is exported as a commodity, it must continue to be shipped domestically and internationally in equal measure. This means that if there is a water shortage, domestic shipments must be curtailed to the same degree that exports are curtailed; in other words, Canada must treat American and Mexican customers the same as it treats Canadian customers. However, the premise of the story is that Canada's exporting water to the United States is a big danger for the country, and yet it is not explained why this should be the case. Nowhere is it proposed that Canada might run out of water. The film hints that water services are being privatized by large corporations - surprise, where is this not happening in the world? All I'm left with is the idea that it is an affront to Canadian pride that Americans should be drinking their water at all. Did they not read NAFTA before they ratified it?Paul Gross makes a fine if slimy grieving son-turned-PM, and Leslie Hope and Guy Nadon were believable as the team attempting to put themselves together and ride to the rescue of the aforementioned Canadian pride. (Martha Henry was, I thought, a bit too Lady Macbeth as the wine-guzzling widow of the former PM and mother of the current PM.) If the story premise were followed upon, I was left wondering what the Americans would have thought of the following news headline: "Canada to become part of United States"? Would any of them have even remarked, eh?

The Canadian Prime Minister is killed in a canoe accident, and his handsome, charming, smart and articulate son, Tom McLaughlin, rises to power as his replacement. Solomon, in all his wisdom, did warn us that beauty is fleeting and charm is deceit. The lead character is brilliantly played by Paul Gross -- devious and duplicitous, treasonous, corrupt, politically ambitious and completely amoral.International conspiracy, intrigue, espionage, mystery, subterfuge and murder in an assortment of intricate sub-plots interweave to make a complete story with a surprise ending. All the complex characters are skillfully portrayed by a team of highly acclaimed actors.The film is not easy recreational viewing; rather, it is very complex, and you need to pay close attention. Put the kids to bed, and pop the popcorn before cranking up the DVD player – any distractions will make you want to go back to see what you missed. Every event is predicated on deliciously perverse details you might have missed if you blinked.The playground is Canadian government at its most corrupt. I’m a Yank, and I caught on to all the political ins-&-outs without any problem, but I have to admit that many elements made more sense to me in the second viewing. If you like thrills and spills in your viewing entertainment, you’ll love "H2O" -- AND its equally exciting sequel, "Trojan Horse."

Our neighbors to the north present a fable, set in Canada, about taking control of water. It is a compelling mimic of what some of their thoughtful writers may have observed in the behavior of the United States government. It is a little melodramatic and thrilling in a dreadful way. I doubt that many of my compatriots will watch because it is very Canadian culturally. However, it is an interesting story depicting how fragile democracy and the truth are. Conspiracy theorists will really lap this up. The ending has a very interesting twist. I really like Paul Gross and try to watch his work whenever I can find it. This would make an interesting pairing with Milagro Beanfield War. For truly wonderful work by Paul Gross and other gifted Canadians, check out all of Slings and Arrows, a wonderful television series, 3 (Canadian/6 episodes) seasons-worth.

I do not know anything about the Parlimentary system but even so I found this delicious twisty turny movie intruiging. I actually watched Trojan Horse first and it was that film that caused me to go back to the "roots" of the saga. I am glad I did. The main characters are delectbly multi dimensional. There is that delicate balance between a lust for power the need to create a unified society and desire for love from others and of self that weaves through the story lines quite powerfully. Well done all around. The ending left me feeling .... well, I can't quite land on a specific word but I didn't want it to end the way it did - however if it hadn't we'd never have the sequel, would we.

Do you like Parliamentary procedure? Do you like dark, post 9/11 speculative drama? Then this is the thriller for you. Actually, you don't have to love the Westminster system of Government to follow this brutal little number, but understanding what a vote of confidence is and why the Governor General would get involved is probably a help. The suspense builds throughout H2O and no-one is spared the consequences of their actions. Very satisfying, building a believable if extreme plot centered around the Prime Minister's death, with an ending that absolutely does not cop out. Mandatory viewing if you question the ends to which various Governments have used "War on Terror" rhetoric to further policies that would have been unthinkable otherwise.

This political thriller/satire is a joy for those of us who prefer the drama of ideas over car chases and explosions: although an explosion plays a key factor in the final plot twist of this excellent production. This Canadian miniseries is a doozy of a commentary on the politcal relationship between the USA and Canada and the politics of water: a resource even more primal and more sought after than oil.It starts with the murder of the Canadian prime minister and his son's assumption to power,then careens through conspiracy, megolamania, a plan to drain the Great Lakes, and the breakdown of a stable country.Elements of this miniseries remind me of "Dr. Strangelove" that great satire from the Cold War era. No one rides a nuclear warhead down to detonation, but the conspirators ride an equally insane plot to the unexpected, but not unbelievable end. Paul Gross does not "Sig Heil" with black leather gloves, but under the sohpisticated and glossy veneer, his character is as much a megalomaniac as Strangelove himself. Although Gross is the catalytic character, he is part of an excellent ensemble cast.The director moves the story forward through a combination of flashbacks, and intercuts of people acting simultaneously in different locations It is skillfully done and easy to follow. Viewers in the USA, may find obscure some of the references to the First Nations and the separatist movement within French Canada: one follows the thought but misses the "colors and reverberations" around it.H2O was engrossing because of the ideas expressed; I watched it twice immediately, but found none of the characters engaged my empathy with the exception of a police officer doomed to die early in the game. And I have to add that if the "facts" about the acquifer in the Midwest is at all close to the truth, this film is scarier in the ramifications than any "Night of the Living Dead." This is not quite a five star film because there is a plot element that is a little thin, but it is better than only four stars.

I watched this miniseries when it came out. (There, I admitted it, I actually watched something on CBC that wasn't sports - then again, Tom Stone and The Border are also really good and proof that very occasionally, CBC can do something right besides sports!) The whole premise interested me and after seeing the promos (probably during a CFL or HNIC broadcast) I was intrigued. It was thrilling, engrossing, scary in a big picture way, and definitely thought-provoking. When I saw it was being released on dvd, I immediately pre-ordered it.Paul Gross' character definitely is a departure from his previous image from Due South but most assuredly is in the vein of him taking chances (Men With Brooms, etc.) and playing away from being typecast. Nonetheless, he makes a believable character who you realize in the end, is the bad guy....or is he? He's very Machiavellian and you just can't be sure. The supporting cast is excellent too though I am wondering exactly what role the mother McLaughlin character is playing. However, now that there's a sequel, The Trojan Horse, some questions that were left hanging will probably be answered.I received this movie some time ago but hadn't got around to watching it till now. As the full miniseries, it can sometimes be hard to watch 3 hours at one time and you do need to do that to do the story justice. However, with the sequel miniseries on tv (and on my PVR just waiting for me) I decided to reacquaint myself with the subject before delving into The Trojan Horse. Again, the story is as I described previous: thrilling, engrossing, scary, thought-provoking. I was a little put off by some of the abrupt transitions from one scene to the next and found that slowed the flow a bit. Also, some elements of the story take place weeks or even months apart, yet it seems they are one day to the next; a little header would be appreciated especially for those who may not be versed in Canadian politics and don't know it doesn't take us 3-1/2 years to elect a party leader. These are my reasons for marking down to 4 stars (wanted to give 4-1/2 but can't).Now, bring The Trojan Horse out on dvd and I'll preorder that too just to see what happens next.Okay, it's now a couple weeks later and I've found the time to sit and watch the whole sequel, The Trojan Horse. It doesn't answer some questions but builds on this miniseries. It too is riveting and thought-provoking and highly entertaining and engrossing. I can't wait for the dvd of it!

H2O is a brilliant political thriller. Anyone who thinks that Canada is trailing the USA with this type of film is living in the past. You can't afford to be distracted for a moment whilst watching it. Paul Gross is best remembered for his slightly comic roles, such as Benton Fraser in 'Due South' and his latest western 'Gunless', however, when he stars in dramatic roles he excels. If you want a full evening's viewing, this is the film for you, approx 4 hours long, it will have you hooked right up to the last scene.Peter Vare

worth the wait

A great film