(2003 independent film)

Bruce Greenwood plays Tom Avery, the romantic male lead in this independent Canadian film from noted Toronto-based director Deepa Mehta (Bollywood, Hollywood, Fire, Earth). The story concerns a late night talk show host who succumbs to love a little too eagerly and is now facing his fortieth birthday and three failed marriages. In a parallel storyline we meet Fay McLeod, an archivist researching mermaids, who at 30 is breaking up with the latest man in her life, naggingly uneasy about commitment as she seeks the same perfection she sees in her parents' long and seemingly blissful marriage. Two kind, gentle people who suddenly connect and unexpectedly find love. British actress Emilia Fox co-stars as Fay and the cast also includes Claire Bloom, Martha Henry, Jackie Burroughs (who co-starred with Bruce in The Road to Avonlea and here plays his Mother), Gary Farmer and Emilia Fox's real-life father Edward Fox, playing her reel-life father in the film.

Adapted for the screen by Mehta and Esta Spalding from Carol Shields' much admired novel of the same name, principle photography began on November 17, 2004 and wound up over Christmas 2002 after a somewhat troubled pre-production history. Greenwood himself was instrumental in bringing the actual shooting to fruition and is therefore credited as an executive producer of the movie. The film premiered on September 11, 2003 at The Toronto International Film Festival and then travelled on to several other Canadian film festivals before its general release on February 14, 2004 .

The Republic of Love is Bruce Greenwood's first leading romantic role in a motion picture. Although the film was released in Canada only it is now available on DVD.

Fay and Tom