Random Passage

Like all movies ,with the exception of "Angela's Ashes", the book is always more accurate and details are more thorough than the film. The problem a lot of the time is the dialects in some of these films. Fanny for example was played by native Sarah Power who should have known better and researched the bayman dialect which she didn't do for lack of talent. An uptown St. John's dialect cannot be compared to the dialects of Bonavista Bay. Had they taken veterans like Amy House and Ross Goldsworthy the film might of had a chance although Coln Meaney was quite wonderful in the role of Thomas Hutchings. I noticed many in this historical piece struggled with their roles when they spoke but that is to be expected when time outweighs research. To capture an era is wonderful but if the dialects are off course it becomes nothing more than a movie about Newfoundland. Like you all I thought it was a great film but some of the casting was unforgivable. What would an Englishman know about casting Newfoundland based characters? Nothing at all apparently and it is so very noticeable. As one lady from Newfoundland so perfectly coined it..." Youse don't sound like way!"

Believe it or not, this was what it was like. In those times the Newfies were ignorant, poor people, easily manipulated by the monopoly of the St. John's merchants. They lived their entire lives on scraps, poverty and disease stricken whose ancesters can tell you more stories just as estranged that really did happen.

if anyone knows anything about the history of Newfoundland they will apprechiate this story. The story was not overzellius in any respect. People like Lavinia Andrews and Mary Bundle existed in those times. Women were utilized like Mary Bundle (I know another commenter stated that women didn't cook on vessels. Tell that to my ancesters that came to Newfoundland from England fishing off the french coast.) Women were raped, and really had no choice but to allow things to unfold in front of them. They had no rights. Bernice Morgan illustrated the greatest example of the history of Newfoundland in both Random Passage AND Waiting For Time. The only complaint I have about the series is that it didn't stay completely true to the story.

But still didn't stretch far from reality.

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".

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.

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