17.9.06
The Constant Gardener
The Constant Gardener – 2005
An intelligent political thriller. Low level British diplomat Justin Quayle's activist wife, Tessa, is murdered in remote Kenya. The normally unambitious Quayle believes something is amiss and knows his wife was keeping important things from him. He decides to step completely out of character and use his position to investigate the murder himself. Justin learns a lot more about his wife in the process and comes to realise what an amazing person she was and why she was keeping certain information away from him, and he then seeks to expose an evil truth in her memory.
Firstly this film is about love and remorse; secondly it is about high level corruption in a British High Commission also involving pharmaceutical corporations. It is a very good and involved film. Ralph Fiennes plays Justin and Rachel Weisz is the outspoken Tessa. They both portray the characters from this story (a novel by John le Carre) with total skill and devotion. I especially like Fiennes, who manages to hold the audience throughout. There is just something about him.
The director is Brazilian Fernando Meirelles (City of God) who has clearly made a stunning film. Wonderful cinematography. 8.5/10
