The Grand Seduction

The Grand Seduction is a 2013 Canadian

The film was nominated in four categories for the Canadian Screen Awards, with Pinsent winning the award for Actor in a Supporting Role at the March 2014 ceremony.^[3]

Plot

It begins with young boy, Murray French, narrating the story about his father, a fisherman in the small community of Tickle Head, Newfoundland and Labrador. Murray feels the community has a shared sense of purpose, good work ethics, and notes his parents' domestic bliss.

Many years later, the men of Tickle Head (including Murray) line up at the town's post office to receive welfare cheques from post office clerk, Kathleen, and cash them with bank branch manager, Henry Tilley. Adding to the indignity, Murray's wife is leaving him for a job in St. John's.

At a town meeting, the mayor tells Murray a petrochemical company is negotiating to build a factory in the town. The company requires a doctor to be a resident of the town, and the community has been trying unsuccessfully to find one for the last eight years. Murray resolves that a factory is what the town needs, and a resident doctor is the solution. Later, Murray observes the mayor surreptitiously leaving town with his family for a job in St. John's, as well.

In St. John's, Dr. Paul Lewis, a plastic surgeon, is flying home when a security agent finds cocaine in his luggage. The agent, the former mayor of Tickle Head, makes a deal with Dr. Lewis. In exchange for overlooking his possession of cocaine, Dr. Lewis agrees to live in Tickle Head for one month. Murray arranges for the "seduction" of Dr. Lewis to a long-term contract, lying to the townspeople this will guarantee the choice of Tickle Head as the location for the new factory. As part of the ruse, he convinces the townspeople to pretend to play cricket, the doctor's favourite sport, and also he taps the doctor's phone to learn more ways to entice him to stay.

The petrochemical company executive visits the town and tells Murray, who posing as the mayor, the rival town of St. Anne has made a more attractive offer, including a bribe. The executive demands a bribe of $100,000 before the plant will be awarded to Tickle Head, as well as, expressing concern about the population in Tickle Head is too small for a factory.

Murray goes to bank to apply for a loan. Henry denies the loan. But, Murray presses the issue, and tells Henry that he could be easily be replaced by an ATM. Henry reconsiders the loan against bank instructions knowing that he will be fired.

Meanwhile, the town's deception and favourable attention persuades Lewis to stay, helped by the discovery that his fiancée, Helen, has been cheating on him with his best friend. But when he accepts the position in front of the whole town, in a speech praising their authenticity and integrity, Murray shamefully lies and tells him that another doctor has already accepted the position. Afterwards, Kathleen tells Dr. Lewis the truth, causing him to confront Murray angrily just as the executive is signing the paperwork for the factory. After an impassioned speech by Murray, Dr. Lewis agrees to stay. The company agrees to build the factory.

Later, the factory has opened, bringing dignity back to the town again. Murray reunites with his wife, and Henry has a new job, since he has been replaced with an ATM. The film ends with a satisfied ending similar to Murray's opening flashback.

Cast

Production

The Grand Seduction is based on the 2003 film