Alexandra Van Der Noot Movies

In this period thriller set near the turn of the century, Jan Thoreau (Gabriel Arcand) is a Canadian trapper who lives with his wife Marie (Alexandra Vandernoot) in a small community in the wilderness not far from Hudson Bay. Blake (Michael Biehn) is a disturbed drifter who has murdered a man and has found a way to frame Jan for his crime. Jan is out tending to his traps when an Indian friend with psychic talents tells him Marie is in grave danger. Jan hurries back, but he has no idea just how serious matters are until he arrives home -- Jan is wanted by the law for a crime he didn't commit, while Blake is hiding out in his home, and has taken Marie hostage. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Fabien's father must go where the work is; he is an unskilled laborer, and work isn't always nearby. Fabien (Mathias Leny) grew up mostly in the south of France, but now he must move with his father to the colder climes of the north. There, his countrified southern ways make him the subject of ridicule even by his teachers, and as an outsider, he is a natural object for bullying by the boys. As a form of abuse, they call in "gypsy." It is evident that this is a form of racism. However, when he becomes friends with some actual gypsies, he discovers what racism is in far more depth. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

A spin-off of the popular movie, Highlander: The Series follows the exploits of immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul), another member of the Highland clan that produced the older Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), who was the focus of three feature films and a supporting character in the first episode of the new series.
Also appearing in the series: Stan Kirsch as the headstrong Richie Ryan; Alexandra Vandernoot as Duncan's love interest, Tessa Noel; the late Werner Stocker as Darius; Jim Byrnes as Joe Dawson, a member of the Watchers; Elizabeth Gracen as Amanda, another immortal; and Peter Wingfield as Methos (a five-thousand-year-old immortal masquerading as a Watcher.)
While the first season suffered from a lack of diversity in story lines (the basic theme involves immortals beheading each other in a process called "The Game" -- the survivor receives the energy of the loser via "The Quickening"), the producers finally managed to provide some interesting twists via the introduction of the Watchers, a secret society of mortals dedicated to observing the lives of the immortals. Vandernoot, homesick for Paris (where the series filmed half its episodes, due to a co-production deal), chose to leave the series at the start of the second season, with her character being killed off and Richie being revealed as an immortal at the same time. Blues artist Jim Byrnes became a regular during the second season. The Watchers were featured in many episodes, with the existence of the organization (and of immortals) sometimes on the verge of being revealed to the world. In the fifth season, Duncan was revealed as a Champion for Good, eventually resulting in an ultimate battle against the evil Ahriman and the death of Richie at the end of the fifth season and the beginning of the abbreviated final season. After six seasons, production on the show was ended, with Adrian Paul signed to appear as Duncan in the fourth movie (several movie-length videos were released during the course of the series) and producers Davis/Panzer planning a new television spin-off, this time featuring a female immortal. ~ Steven E. McDonald, All Movie Guide

Accompanied by Richie (Stan Kirsch), Tessa (Alexandra Van Der Noot) storms down to the courthouse to argue about her recent parking tickets. Almost immediately, both Richie and Tessa are taken hostage by a gang trying to free their leader, Bryan Slade (Andrew Divoff), who has just been sentenced to life imprisonment. In his efforts to rescue his friends, Duncan (Adrian Paul) is "killed" right before the eyes of a SWAT team. To avoid being exposed as an Immortal, Duncan is forced to carry out the rest of his rescue mission in secret, aided by feisty janitor's daughter Belinda (Andrea Libman). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, renegade Watcher Horton (Peter Hudson) persists in his scheme to destroy both Duncan (Adrian Paul) and Richie (Stan Kirsch). As part of the plan, Horton uses plastic surgery to transform escaped killer Lisa Halle into the living image of Duncan's deceased sweetheart Tessa (Alexandra Van Der Noot). In the course of the intrigue, Charlie puts his life on the line to warn Duncan that Lisa/Tessa is not what she seems to be. Michel Modo makes his last series appearance as Maurice in this, the final episode of Highlander's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richie's new girlfriend, fashion model Maya (Katia Douvalian), has suddenly gotten all the jobs formerly held by her rival. The reason? That rival has been murdered by fashion designer Gabriel Piton (Nigel Terry), who doesn't want to be exposed as an Immortal. Duncan (Adrian Paul) worries that Richie (Stan Kirsch) may be next on the killer's list. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After years of searching through orphanage records, Richie (Stan Kirsch) is convinced that he has found his real father. Duncan (Adrian Paul) doubts this, especially after meeting Richie's self-confessed "daddy", a two-bit gambler named Joe Scanlon (J.E. Freeman). As it happens, Richie is being set up for betrayal to one of Joe's more lethal creditors, a chap named Clinch (Peter DeLuise), forcing Duncan to go to the rescue of his pal yet again. This was the second episode of Highlander to be filmed, but the 11th to be telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Still in Paris, Duncan (Adrian Paul) squares off against Immortal thief, murderer and hedonist Xavier St. Cloud (Jean-Claude Deret). Having enjoyed considerable success using deadly nerve gas to commit crimes during WWI, St. Cloud intends to revive his modus operandi at an art fundraiser held by Tessa (Alexandra Van Der Noot). Meanwhile, Richie (Stan Kirsch) falls for a gorgeous socialite who happens to be married -- thus forcing Tessa into the role of "rescuer" for a change. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Living a hermitlike existence in the woods, Vietnam veteran Leo Atkins (Vincent Schiavelli) is charged with murder by sheriff Howard Crowley (John Novak). The victim was a mortal friend of Immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) -- and Duncan is convinced that Leo is innocent. Could the actual culprit be a local bully named Lemoyne (Garry Chalk), or is the guilty party the proverbial Least Likely Suspect? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Duncan (Adrian Paul), Tessa (Alexandra Van Der Noot), and Richie (Stan Kirsch) are the guests of Tessa's old friend Allan Rothwood (Anthony Head). The visit turns unpleasant when Col. Belian (Peter Guinness), the head of a small private army, accuses Allan's son, Mark (Jason Riddington), of raping Belian's stepdaughter, Lori (Marion Cotillard). Further complicating matters, at least so far as Duncan is concerned, is the revelation that Belian is an Immortal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Grace Candel (Julia Stemberger) is a good Immortal, working tirelessly for the betterment of mankind. Alas, Grace's former lover Carlo Sendaro (Georges Corraface) is the embodiment of evil -- and insanely jealous in the bargain. Murdering Grace's mortal sweetheart, Carlo frames her for the crime. But never fear: Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) is not about to let Grace suffer for someone else's perfidy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season two of Highlander begins as handsome 400-year-old Immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) leaves Paris and returns to Vancouver, determined to destroy the killers of his mentor Darius at the end of Season One. The trail leads Duncan to a bookstore run by Joe Dawson (Jim Byrnes), who turns out to be a member of The Watchers, a secret organization that has been hunting down and eliminating evil mortals for centuries. Tragedy trikes Duncan when his mortal sweetheart Tessa (Alexandra Van der Noot) and his friend Richie Ryan (Stan Kirsch) are shot down by a mugger. Tessa dies, but Richie survives, thus revealing something he had never known: He too is an Immortal, unable to be killed unless beheaded by another Immortal. Giving up his antique shop, Duncan purchases a martial-arts store owned by a mercenary named Charlie DeSalvo (Philip Akin) but sells it back to Charlie upon making his annual pilgrimage to Paris. By the end of the season, Duncan, weary of four centuries of death and violence, prepares to embark on a worldwide odyssey of self-discovery with Charlie as his traveling companion -- but this may not be possible when an old enemy of Duncan's resurfaces foresworn to destroy the Immortal and everyone and everything he holds dear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide