H2O
Broadcaster: CBC
Production companies: Whizbang Films, Sound Venture International
Producers: Paul Gross, Frank Siracusa
Writers: Paul Gross, John Krizanc
Director: Charles Binamé
Cast: Paul Gross, Martha Henry, Jeff Seymour, Leslie Hope
Plot: A conspiracy of oceanic proportions faces the nation when the prime minister drowns in a supposed canoeing accident. Upon delivering a stirring eulogy, prodigal son Tom McLaughlin (Gross) is launched into politics and ultimately 24 Sussex Drive. He arrives on Parliament Hill just in time to throw some hot water on a conspiracy to sell off Canada’s most precious resource.

Paul Gross’ two-part politico thriller made a big splash in the ratings when it aired just a few days after last year’s World Series. The Ottawa-shot H2O washed away the competition with 908,000 viewers when it premiered Oct. 31 at 8 p.m., while the final episode aired Nov. 1, attracting 927,000 viewers, according to overnight figures.

Lives of the Saints
Broadcaster: CTV
Production companies: Capri Films, Giovanna Arata, R.T.I S.p.A
Producers: Gabriella Martinelli, Giovanna Arata
Writer: Malcolm MacRury
Director: Jerry Ciccoritti
Cast: Sophia Loren, Nick Mancuso, Fab Filippo, Jessica Paré, Kris Kristofferson
Plot: Adapted from the trilogy of novels by Nino Ricci, including the Governor General’s Award-winning Lives of the Saints. Academy Award winner Sophia Loren is the matriarchal head of the Innocente family in a saga that spans 30 years in both Italy and Canada, as young Vittorio (Filippo) traces his mother’s past in search of his own identity. In the process he reveals many things about the tiny Italian village of Valle del Sole, from its century-old superstitions, fears and maliciousness.

Capri Films producer Gabriella Martinelli was so excited about the project that she optioned all three books in the trilogy long before Ricci had even finished them. Jerry Ciccoritti, who won a 2005 DGC Award for his direction, described it as the perfect vehicle for working out his own demons.
‘The main character, Vittorio, is me,’ he said. ‘I know this guy, I know this world, I know the emotions. One of my big goals with this movie is to show that the Italian-Canadian immigrant experience is completely different from the Italian-American experience.’

Sex Traffic
Broadcaster: CBC
Production companies: Big Motion Pictures, Granada Television
Producers: Wayne Grigsby, Michele Buck, David MacLeod, Derek Wax
Writer: Abi Morgan
Director: David Yates
Cast: John Simm, Anamaria Marinca, Maria Popistasu, Wendy Crewson
Plot: Two young Moldovan sisters (Marinca and Popistasu) are kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery from Romania to Italy and London, double-crossed and manipulated equally by pimps and police. This critically lauded and gritty portrayal of rampant corruption shines an uncomplimentary light on big business and international peacekeeping forces in Europe.

There are unconfirmed rumblings that Sex Traffic is headed the way of that other Traffik mini. Although U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 didn’t confirm details at press time, Big Motion Pictures producer Wayne Grigsby believes the rights to make a feature based on the miniseries have been optioned.
The pair of two-hours for CBC and Channel 4 about the $7-billion underground sex trade attracted 458,000 viewers last Oct. 10, with the audience growing to 500,000 for the conclusion on Oct. 11, although some questioned the CBC’s wisdom in programming the disturbing mini on the family-oriented Thanksgiving weekend.

PLAYBACK PREDICTS THE WINNER:
Sex Traffic: MD, DD, MHS, MH
H2O: SD
Lives of the Saints: MR