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The Constant Gardner
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
Starring: Ralph Fiennes
Genre:
Action-Adventure/Drama
Run Time: 129
min.
Release Date:
August 2005
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
THE CONSTANT GARDNER is one
of those films that sneaks up on you and bites you in the butt.
Mislabeled as a "thriller", this movie packs a wallop of a punch,
leading into the lives of a man tortured by the murder of his wife, yet
showing us an intimate love story that unfolds after her death.
The setting is present day Africa and the man is Justin Quayle (Ralph
Fiennes, THE ENGLISH PATIENT), a British diplomat who struggles with a
strong-willed wife (Rachel Weisz,
THE FOUNTAIN) named Tessa. Tessa is
throwing a wrench into the works of the multimillion dollar operations
of the pharmaceutical industry that use African men and women as test
subjects for new drugs. And one of these new medicines (which is poised
to make billions of dollars) may be killing people.
With too much money at stake, the drug company — that happens to be
backed by the British government — takes its own action and kills Tessa.
Now Justin is on the case, trying to uncover what it was his wife had
discovered and who was behind her murder. As he travels this road,
though, he battles within himself the thoughts that Tessa may have been
unfaithful ...only to learn that her love for him knew no bounds.
The direction of The Constant Gardner by Fernando Meirelles is
fascinating. His unorthodox use of scattered events and time allowed for
some interesting aspects, most notably a character flow that grew
backwards from the story ...for a while. About halfway through the movie
the continual forward motion of time starts up, with no flashbacks, and
allows the viewer to see a pleasant (if somewhat fatalistic) ending.
There's no heavy-handed message that forces itself upon the viewer,
either. Like immersing yourself in a steaming hot-tub, this film also
gently lowers you into its waters, giving you a feel for what might lay
ahead.
It was also nice to see characters that were so multifaceted. Friends
became enemies, enemies became friends, and acquaintances could very
well help or kill any one of the movie's main characters.
This is definitely a film that'll get a few Oscar nods in my estimation.
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Image from The Constant
Gardner
DVD cost: $10.99
Purchase:
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Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
After filming, the
Constant Gardener Trust was set-up to help the inhabitants of the slums
near Nairobi where the crew had been filming.
Movie Quote: "Take
me to Africa with you."
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Constant Gardner
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