Iron Road (2008– )

A poor but feisty Chinese woman, disguised as a boy, joins the railroad crew in the Rocky Mountains to search for her long-lost father, and falls in love with the son of the railroad tycoon.

Stars:

Betty Sun, Luke Macfarlane, Sam Neill

5 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Betty Sun	...	Little Tiger (2 episodes, 2009)
Luke Macfarlane	...	James Nichol (2 episodes, 2009)
Sam Neill	...	Alfred Nichol (2 episodes, 2009)
Tony Leung Ka Fai	...	Bookman (2 episodes, 2009)
Kenneth Mitchell	...	Edgar (2 episodes, 2009)
Peter O'Toole	...	Relic (2 episodes, 2009)
Ian Tracey	...	Controller (2 episodes, 2009)
Gao Yun Xiang	...	Wang Ma (2 episodes, 2009)
Serge Houde	...	George Grant (2 episodes, 2009)
Charlotte Sullivan	...	Melanie Grant (2 episodes, 2009)
Zhang Nai Hua	...	Di Hong (2 episodes, 2009)
Ningyu Zhao	...	Lei Mo (2 episodes, 2009)
Jiang Boning	...	Powder (2 episodes, 2009)
Lisa Bunting	...	Kathryn Nichol (2 episodes, 2009)
Jeffrey Fisher	...	Foreman (2 episodes, 2009)
Charmaine Grey	...	Frances Grant (2 episodes, 2009)
Barry Pearson	...	Yale Doctor (2 episodes, 2009)

Storyline

In 1882, Alfred Nichol, owner of the Nichol Railway Company, is building a railroad through the Canadian Rockies. He sends his irresponsible playboy son, James Nichol, to Hong Kong to check on the company's recruitment of Chinese laborers to work on the railroad's construction. One of the laborers James brings back is a orphan boy named Little Tiger. Unknown to James, Little Tiger is actually a young woman, who is masquerading as a boy to eke out a better living for herself. She is desperate to make it to Canada to find her missing father. Professionally, Little Tiger is tasked with being a tea boy to the other laborers on the construction crew, although she really wants to work on the more lucrative explosives team as, working at a firecracker factory in Hong Kong, she learned the finer details of explosives from a master. She also learns of some improprieties within the construction camp. Personally, Little Tiger falls in love with James, an unforbidden love even if she exposes her ...

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Plot Keywords:

railroad | period piece | girl disguised as boy | tv mini series | male nudity | 

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Taglines:

The search for her past became part of a nation's future

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada China

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 2009 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Droga zelazna

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Iron Road Productions, Mainland Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 95 min (theatrical)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Beautiful and Entertaining film

I wouldn't pretend that this is the best film/mini series I've ever see but I believe one reviewer was off on the harsh criticism this film was given. The reviewer even mistakenly names an actor that wasn't even in the film but that is not the point. Having seen this film you are transported to another time and into the heart of a struggling nation looking to find it's way. The story and characters are interesting and developed enough to keep one glued to their couch. This may not be art cinema at it's very best but it is none the less an educational and entertaining film that is beautifully and artistically moving.The actors are gifted and the writing while not the best doesn't take away from the overall story. And who can go wrong watching the great Peter O'toole on screen again!