JOHN A: BIRTH OF A COUNTRY is a story of personal hatred, public passion and the rivalry that shaped Canada. The time is 1856 to 1864. Two men, each profoundly committed to his own views, battle to dominate Canada's future. This two-hour drama lays bare the passionate struggle between John A. Macdonald, the charismatic leader of the Conservative Party and his opponent, the fiercely determined George Brown, founder of Toronto's Globe newspaper and leader of what would become the Liberal Party. Both were fired by dramatically different visions for this country and had a deep hatred for each other. As Macdonald takes control of the Conservative Party and makes it the dominant force in the Legislature, he puts together a plan of action that is so brilliant and audacious it eventually leads to Confederation and the creation of Canada.
This riveting and lushly produced drama is based on Richard Gwyn's award-winning book John A: The Man Who Made Us.
DVD Bonus Features include: Behind-the-scenes Video Diary and audio commentary with Bernie Zukerman (exec producer), Jerry Ciccoritti (director) and Shawn Doyle (actor).
John A. Macdonald miniseries wins screenwriting prize - CBC News, Arts & Entertainment
"Screenwriter Bruce M. Smith won the Canadian Screenwriting Award for movies and miniseries for John A: Birth of a Country, which was based on the first volume of Richard Gwyn’s biography of Canada’s first prime minister"...Read article.
Based upon Richard Gwyn's biography John A.: The Man Who Made Us: The Life and Times of John A. Macdonald, 1815-1867, this made-for-television drama focuses upon the political turmoil in the Province of Canada between 1856 and 1864 that culminated in a united government with Macdonald as premier of a colony that would seek confederation with other British colonies in North America. The period is characterized by dysfunction as government after government falls when it is unable to sustain a majority. Dissatisfaction with the province's constitution that guaranteed Lower Canada an equal number of seats in the assembly, despite growing population in Upper Canada, flames the cry for "Representation by Population" espoused by George Brown and his fellow liberals. The power struggle between the primarily Francophone members from Lower Canada and the primarily Anglophone members from Upper Canada is also illustrated by the failure of the members to decide upon the location of a permanent home for the seat of government. The assembly would relocate every three years, at no small expense, between temporary headquarters in Toronto and Quebec City. Shrewd political statesmanship resolves the issue when the governor general advises Queen Victoria to name Ottawa, the former lumber town Bytown on the Ottawa River, the new capital of the province.
The blurb on the dvd cover aptly describes the film as a political thriller. John A. Macdonald is portrayed locked in a mutual hatred with George Brown. With support from his Lower-Canadian conservative colleague George-Etienne Cartier, Macdonald demonstrated skill in political brinkmanship. The constitutional power of the governor general is demonstrated at one point when Brown is defeated, and, rather than allow another election so quickly after the last one, the governor general lets Macdonald form a government.
The private lives of both Macdonald and Brown are captured mainly in their relations with their respective spouses. It is implied that the prolonged illness and death of Macdonald's first wife contributed to his abuse of alcohol. Brown found that his Scottish soon-to-be wife Anne opened his mind to the importance of the rights of minorities. Scenes of domestic life are among the most effective in capturing a sense of everyday life in the period. Particularly engaging is one scene showing Anne baking scones on an open hearth. The magic of film brings colour to the era in a way that historic black-and- white or sepia-toned photographs cannot. It is unclear whether the colourful outfits that Macdonald sports are factual or the director's effort to make him stand out from his peers.
Brown emerges as a stellar statesman when he sets aside his personal ambitions and animosity toward Macdonald to support the creation of a united government in 1864 that will seek to resolve its constitutional problems and address the threat of annexation from the Union forces of the United States, who are angered by Britain's support of the Confederates in the American Civil War, by seeking confederation with other British colonies.
Recommended
in Canadian Review of Materials (CM)
A TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE accompanies the DVD and incorporates the historical thinking concepts embedded in the forthcoming Ontario Canadian and World Studies and Social Science and Humanities curriculum documents.
One copy of the guide will accompany your order.
Or you can DOWNLOAD the guide in these two formats:
♦ PDF
♦ Word
