Tsunami, the Aftermath
Saturday, HBO Canada, 8 p.m.
A repeat, this excellent BBC/HBO miniseries is worth seeing. The focus is on a group of fictional characters in Thailand coping with the natural disaster of the tsunami which struck in December, 2004. This is no by-rote "disaster movie." We get the destruction early on and then watch as a young couple search for their child; an Englishwoman (Gina McKee from The Forsythe Saga) whose husband and son are missing, a Thai survivor (Samrit Machielsen) whose entire life is destroyed – his story is at the core of the production. We also get Tim Roth as a cynical reporter who is moved to moral outrage by what he sees. Written by Abi Morgan, who also wrote the miniseries Sex Traffic, this is a moving, at times horrifying drama about loss, recovery and the greed of those who preyed on a vulnerable country and its people.
Diverted
Sunday, CBC, 8 p.m.
This charming, sleek, feel-good TV movie, a Canada/U.K. co-production, first aired a few years ago, but the anniversary of 9/11 is the best time to see it. It's about how Gander, Nfld., opened its arms to air travellers on Sept. 11, 2001, when the terror attacks on the United States forced dozens of flights to be diverted to Gander's international airport. About 7,000 stranded travellers – nearly the population of the town itself – arrived, and Gander coped. Here, much of the emphasis is on passengers on a flight from London. David Suchet plays an arrogant businessman who, of course, learns to appreciate the kindness of the locals. Joanne Whalley plays a nervous passenger who asserts herself in the situation. It's the Canadians, though, who really shine. Liisa Repo-Martell is excellent as Eileen, who has to handle much of the logistics in Gander. And Shawn Ashmore, best known for his roles in the X-Men movies, plays a young air traffic controller who falls in love with a passenger. Sentimental, but nicely done.
9/11: Ten Years Later
Sunday, CBS, Global, 8 p.m.
Here is the updated version of the Emmy-winning doc that first aired in 2002, when 40 million American viewers watched it. Narrated by Robert De Niro, it is based mostly on the footage shot by Jules and Gedeon Naudet, the French filmmakers who coincidentally were making a documentary about New York City firefighters on that September 11th. What they filmed turned out to be an important historic record of the events of the day. Here, part of the update involves interviewing the 14 firefighters from the original documentary to see what has happened to them, and get their thoughts on the events of the intervening decade. The decision by CBS to air the original doc in 2002 was initially criticized for being insensitive, but anyone who saw it knew that was not the case,
So You Think You Can Dance Canada
Sunday, CTV, 8 p.m.
The season ends with a live, two-hour finale and the winner is chosen. All of the top 20 dancers – from has been an excellent season – will perform. Much screaming, squealing and high excitement. The atmosphere is electric and it's usually a great party to watch. Also ending the season tonight are True Blood (HBO Canada, 9 p.m.), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO Canada, 10 pm.) and the series finale of Entourage (HBO Canada 10:30 p.m.). On a day that has much sombre programming about the anniversary of 9/11, you could do a lot worse than watch the joyful pleasure of dance or the madcap antics of vampires feuding and loving. As for Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage, they are products of American popular culture that signal the formidable strength and vitality of the country itself. Sometimes, the best thing to do is laugh.
Check local listings.