IW003 - The Grand Seduction
The Grand Seduction is set in Newfoundland, an island so sexy that even a simple packet of Newfoundland onions was banned by Facebook from appearing on their site. HOT!!
The Grand Seduction sounds sexy, but it’s much more sweet: the tale of a community working together to save itself from collapse.
To listen, click on the player below.
Photo by Nick Fewings. Licensed through Unsplash.
Sure, a bowl of popcorn is just fine if you’re watching our show-of-the week. But if you want to add some razzmatazz to your Island Watching, we’ve customized a picnic for each show.
Island Watch Picnic Picks
for The Grand Seduction
Nothing gourmet in town, notes Dr. Lewis. But plenty of good honest eating. Pick and choose from the Grand Seduction-inspired menu below to make your own picnic buffet.
Crickets: “Cricket? That’s disgusting. Sushi is bad enough,” says banker Henry Tilley. There are tasty crickets to be found on the interwebs, if you want to treat yourself. Just be aware you need to avoid them if you have a shrimp allergy. No guff. Crickets: shrimp of the soil.
Purity Cream Crackers: A Newfoundland tradition since the 1930s. At least according to the distinctive red box. Made with lard, they are as soft and gentle and Newfoundlandish as this movie.
Lamb Dhansak: This’ll warm you up after a cold day on the Rock. Check out a good how-to video or just get your slow cooker going so it’s ready after work.
Crackers and cheese and a bottle of red wine: For the authentic Grand Seduction experience, make the crackers Purity Cream, and keep the wine on the “house” level.
Pease Pudding, Hot Turkey Sandwich, and Junk Box: Three of the menu specials listed in a bar scene. What, we thought, is Junk Box? It’s $11.95, outpricing the hot turkey sandwich, so it’s gotta have some substance. Is it an appetizer platter of deep-fried wonders? A box of crispy chips, chewy licorice, sweet and sour candies? A hollowed out slice of Texas toast filled with hamburger, dill pickles, and peanut butter mayo? We don’t know the answer, but that also means it can be any of the above. Oh, the deliciously funky possibilities!
The Grand Seduction is set on the east coast of Newfoundland, a beautiful area.
We also talked about the rugged beauty of Gros Morne National Park, on the west coat of the island. Here are the photos we promised!
The beauty of Gros Morne.
Photo by Xavier Coiffic. Licensed through Unsplash.
Western Brook Pond at Gros Morne National Park
Photo by Robyn Budgell. Licensed through Unsplash.
The green shore
of Gros Morne
Photo by Timothy Holmes. Licensed through Unsplash.
For more information on Gros Morne, visit Parks Canada
Licensed through Unsplash
Island Hopping
We got curious. Did the actors from The Grand Seduction go on to act in other island shows?
Simon: Gordon Pinsent is an island boy, born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland in 1930. Given his age, he’s playing fewer roles these days. He’s distinguished himself in many non-island movies that are worth checking out, but here is his island-ography.
Appeared in a 2015 episode on Reel East Coast (HD), a CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) show featuring short films from Atlantic Canada.
Appeared in Republic of Doyle ( 2010-1014), a popular private eye dramedy, also set on the island of Newfoundland.
Also narrated Legends and Lore of the North Atlantic - you can watch a spooky lighthouse tale here.
BONUS!! We promised you Gravitas! Gordon Pinsent reads Bieber:
Barbara French: Cathy Jones is an islander born in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Appeared in Weirdos (2016), directed by Bruce McDonald. It's 1976, the weekend of the American Bicentennial, and 15-year-old Kit decides to run away from home, hitchhike through the Maritimes, and rejoin his mother, played by the marvellous Molly Parker.
Also appears in a 2015 Reel East Coast segment.
Murray French: Brendan Gleeson is an islander born in Dublin, Ireland.
Appears in 2015’s In The Heart Of The Sea, directed by Ron Howard: An ocean tale that captures a giant whale taking on a New England whaling ship - a true story that later inspired the great novel Moby Dick.
Also in the gorgeous Academy Award-nominated 2014 hand-drawn animation, Song Of The Sea, an Irish film about two children, one of whom may be a selkie.
Dr. Lewis : Taylor Kitsch. No other island shows yet!
Kathleen: Liane Balaban got her start starring in an island movie, New Waterford Girl, a 1999 comedy-drama set in Nova Scotia. She's also appeared in a couple of episodes of Republic of Doyle.
Vera: Mary Walsh is an islander, born in St. John’s Newfoundland. Out of many comedies she's appeared in, her favourite is Hatching, Matching & Dispatching, a TV sitcom set in a small outport where one family provides ambulance, wedding, and funeral services. She co-wrote and acted in the series, and starred in a follow-up Christmas movie about the same family, A Christmas Fury.
Mary also appears in New Waterford Girl.
Both she and Cathy Jones were part of two famous sketch comedy shows : CODCO and This Hour has 22 Minutes - produced on the mainland, but conceived in Newfoundland.
Henry Tilley: Mark Critch is another Newfoundlander who appears in This Hour has 22 Minutes.
Photo by Abbie Bernet. Licensed through Unsplash.
Ratings
Because you asked... we now have ratings for all the shows and movies we watch.
To make sure you can find exactly the island show that's right for you, we answer two questions for each show:
Does this show make me feel like I’m actually on the island? That's our specialized Island Rating. No other show gives you that!
Do we recommend this show? Our Star Rating lets you know if we loved a show or not, regardless of the island.
***
Island Rating
Gemma: Beachside Boardwalk (3 out of 5)
The movie does a good job of depicting island life, but I would have loved even more scenic views of that spectacular landscape.
Dave: Toes In The Sand (4 out of 5)
This feels like a very authentic portrayal of life in a small harbour outport, on an island at the edge of a continent. A strong island feel!
Star Rating
Gemma: 4 out of 5
Going through some stuff, and want to feel like life is going to work out fine in the not-too-distant future? Then this is your film.
Dave: 4 out of 5
It's an enjoyable and entertaining "feel good” movie.
Licensed through Unsplash
Find The Island: This week’s puzzle features an island that is far south. Not necessarily where you might think, because after all , this is a puzzle.
Our next island: We visit our first animated island with Moana. A musical full of sing-a-longable numbers and tons of Pacific talent.
Messages in a Bottle: The best way to get in touch with us is by email. Send your questions and comments to us at islandwatchpodcast@gmail.com