In an Uncertain World
| In an Uncertain World | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Various |
| Narrated by | Maggie Huculak |
| Theme music composer | Claude Desjardins and Eric Robertson |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English, French (original); later dubbed to multiple foreign languages |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Mark Starowicz |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC |
| Picture format | NTSC (480i) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | November 18, 2001 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Years of Hope and Anger |
| External links | |
| Website | |
In an Uncertain World is the 17th episode of the dramatic documentary television series Canada: A People's History.
The episode first aired on CBC Television on November 18, 2001. As with the rest of the series, the story was told by the people involved and included a great sense of drama. This episode covered Canadian history from 1976 to 1990, but most of the chapters were not in chronological order. Due to the nature of the period, the visuals used included photos, filming of indirect objects and archival recordings. It is the only episode to use predominantly archival colour footage with a few exceptions. Most of the words were recorded by voice actors, while some of the words were spoken by the figures themselves, and a few among this number were in the French language, with English subtitles.
Some of the main themes in this episode are the Quebec sovereignty movement, the demanding for change among groups of people and the new economic changes. Special attention was placed on the uncertainties of the era. The Vignettes and Chapter descriptions (shown below) support this.
Vignettes
Opening Vignette
“This is a time of revolutionary change, of winners and losers. Old enemies and fresh longings threaten to divide the country and soaring global visions promise dramatic change. (Mulroney: ‘The future of Canada is at stake, I need your help’) Canadians will launch a rights revolution. Mary Eberts will help transform the place of women (Eberts: ‘If governments do not see our place and our voices in their assemblies, then it is up to women to bring the point home.’), Elizabeth May will begin a national crusade from her kitchen table (May: ‘It was their job and it was our life.’) and Baltej Singh Dhillon will challenge the very image of Canada (Dhillon: ‘And how we do as a country is going to be judged globally.’). In an uncertain world, there is upheaval and opportunity.”
Mid-Episode Vignette
“In 1980, the country is captivated by a stubborn young man who begins a journey that will take him into Canadian mythology. Terry Fox is only 22 and determined to raise funds to fight the cancer that took his leg. He will not live to complete his journey but Terry Fox will become a symbol of hope. In the year of Terry Fox’s run, the country has grown to 25 million. It is the year that O Canada is officially declared the national anthem. It is the time Canadians see the beginning of a technological revolution that will usher in a new world. A new world that enters the lives of many Canadians not as a revolution, but as a toy.”