Random Passage

I watched the Random Passage saga and, yes, it was syrupy. There were two unfortunate things that stand out about it. Number one was that as much as they tried to portray the dire circumstances that many settlers in Newfoundland faced, the role played by the merchants was understated. They kept the people in a constant despair and debt in order to maintain their monopoly.

The second unfortunate was that Capt. Picard never came on the Holo-deck for even one scene!!!! I think that after the all the heart string pulling it would have made the over 4 hours of footage worth it. I would have been priceless if Jean-Luc would have stepped into the fishing stage and remarked "You're needed in Engineering."

That's about all except for the commentary on this site. The author mentioned the stereo-typing of the Irish and the "Newfies". Well guys, contrary to popular belief it's not a nice word. It was a slang term applied to us when the Americans had bases in Newfoundland during the second world war and it wasn't meant to be anymore flattering than "Kraut" or "Limey".

We bought the DVD and watched this show after visiting the Random Passage film site in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland (worth a visit btw).

This show is a bit slower-paced than today's shows, being 20 years old, but that really fits for the theme of life in an isolated outport.

The show gets better and more intense as it goes on. The main characters: Thomas, Mary, Lavinia and Ned are all superbly acted.

I really can't think of another show I've seen where I became so involved in the fate of the characters. You really feel their vicissitudes and their triumphs in a way that is unusually strong. This series is under-rated and deserves more attention.

This mini series was the story of two novels in one. Random Passage was a story that revolved primarily around Levinia, and the Novel Waiting for time revolved around Mary Bundle. When Des Walsh wrote the screenplay he combined the two using Mary as the primary character.

I believe it accurately depicts life in Newfoundland back in the early 19th century. It is only in the last 50-60 years, that us Newfoundlanders have been able to kick against those that hold us down and start living for ourselves. It has been a difficult struggle, and still is in many circles given the stereotypes that still exist. This movie is a prime example of this. The Merchants ruled those around. The fisherman had no other way of making a living. The merchants dictated the price of the fish and often robbed the fisherman.

The coast of Newfoundland is rugged and unforgiving to those not prepared. Until the last 50 years or so, most coastal communities were isolated and to live, you lived off the land and the sea. You adapted or you died.

So I believe this movie is an accurate picture of how rough it was to survive, and Mary Bundle learned to adapt, without giving up her own sense of freedom (if I can use that word) to survive.

I give it 7 of 10

I thought all Newfoundlanders from outport communities we're Ignorant, Stupid, Abused, and Cast Away.

If we all had the same building blocks to start with maybe the world would be different, but we make a note of ignoring our own issues and exploit it with loads of money from the Federal Government.

Isn't that what life is all about? Can't put all the Bay Bee's that were born in Prison Ships into normal circumstances.

Three Livers vs. Trois Rivers Want me to add anymore big words into this Comment? How about The Geneva Convention.

But I guess that's what Hollywood is all about, exploit everyone elses troubles.

Random Passage is an epic by no means short of the imagination. It may be a work of fiction, but it accurately reflects the early life on the fishing settlements of Newfoundland. It follows the lives of the Andrews' family, who left England; Mary Bundle, an Irish servant; and Thomas Hutchings, the founding man of Cape Random. Cape Random provides a sanctuary to those that seek a new life or escape an old one. But the Cape presents itself its own challenges. The fishery is the way of life, but the people are cheated by the low fish prices from the greedy merchants of St. John's.

It is an unforgiving land, where one slip on an ice-flow can send a sealer to his frigid death. It is a very important piece of work, as it explores the poverty, the inequality, the hardship, and the love and hate, that are experienced by these characters. It is the closest that rural Newfoundland will ever be presented in such an accurate and honest way.

It is the story of Newfoundland, its people and their lives.