Human Cargo CBC Drama

Human Cargo

CBC Drama, Jan. 4, 5, 6.

A three part six hour mini-series event
Starting Sunday January 4th, 2004 at 8pm

Gritty, shocking, and epic in proportion but deeply personal in its impact Human Cargo is a view of Canada at the corner of Main and Armageddon. A riveting thriller shot on location in Vancouver and South Africa, Human Cargo is an unflinching look at the world of refugees, and of the people who sacrifice their lives to help, or hinder, them. Six stories from the headlines intersect explosively on the front lines of the world’s refugee crisis. The 6 hour dramatic series debuts on CBC Television Sunday, January 4th at 8:00pm. Subsequent episodes will be seen on Monday, January 5th and Tuesday, January 6th at 8:00pm.

This stark dramatic miniseries presents a little-seen view of Canada and features an international cast including actors from South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Among the performers: Starring Oscar nominee Kate Nelligan (The Prince of Tides), multi-award winner Nicholas Campbell (DaVinci’s Inquest), Bayo Akinfemi, Cara Pifko (Wonderland) Myriam Acharki, Nthati Moshesh and with multi-award winner R.H. Thomson and Leslie Hope (24).

When four Hondurans are found dead in the back of a truck at the Canada-U.S. border crossing, Jerry Fischer (Campbell), a committed refugee lawyer, suddenly finds himself involved with Naila Zalmi (Acharki), an Afghani woman and her refugee claim – forcing him to choose between his family, his work and his life.

Nina Wade (Nelligan), an ambitious right-wing politician, goes down in flames in a federal by-election and is parachuted onto the Refugee Board, where her racist views not only enrage her colleagues and the legal community, but eventually test the country’s perception of itself.

Nina’s daughter, Helen Wade (Cara Pifko), disgusted by political machinations and on a mission to help others, signs up with an unproven relief agency. She lands in a refugee camp, in central Africa, in the middle of an ethnically-driven conflict. In the same camp, Odette Kaba battles against the shifting hierarchies, disease, child-soldier recruitment and starvation to keep herself and her three young children alive.

After enduring degradation and torture, Odette’s brother, Moses Buntu (Akinfemi), escapes from Africa and files a refugee claim in Canada – the details of which threaten the moral foundation of the country.

Produced by 3W Productions Inc. in association with CBC Television. Executive producers are Brian McKeown and Hugh Beard; producers are Debra Beard and Linda Svendsen. Written by McKeown and Svendsen, Human Cargo is directed by Brad Turner.