HBO Canada takes viewers behind-the-scenes to explore the unique and sometimes turbulent relations between former United States President Bill Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in The Special Relationship. The HBO original film premieres Saturday, May 29 at 9 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada) and Astral Media’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada).
Throughout history, the United States President and British Prime Minister have enjoyed a special working relationship, and these natural allies draw closer when the election of Labour leader Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) gives Bill Clinton (Dennis Quaid) a political soul mate at the English helm. Blair, the eager young statesman and Clinton, the experienced charismatic leader, dream of remaking the world in a progressive fashion. Their wives Hillary Clinton and Cherie Blair (Hope Davis and Helen McCrory) complete the power couples that are connected by shared ideologies and personal affection. Clinton helps Blair make peace in Northern Ireland; Blair returns the favour by supporting a beleaguered Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal. But the bond is sundered over the festering crisis in Kosovo, as Blair’s call for action clashes with Clinton’s pragmatic approach. As Blair defiantly goes his own way and Hillary makes her own stunning rise in politics, Clinton realizes that Blair is about to embark on a new era and another “special relationship” – with incoming President George W. Bush.
This 90-minute HBO original film is written by Peter Morgan, the Oscar-nominated writer of Frost/Nixon and The Queen), and is directed by Richard Loncraine, an Emmy® winner for HBO’s Band of Brothers and Emmy® nominee for HBO Films’ The Gathering Storm and My House in Umbria. The Special Relationship marks the third time that Michael Sheen has portrayed Tony Blair onscreen, the first two being 2006’s Oscar®-winning The Queen and 2007’s The Deal.
The Special Relationship will be simulcast on HBO Canada HD, and will be available on demand. It will also be available on The Movie Network OnLine with Bell TV following its network premiere.
HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by Astral Media’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada).
