The Constant Gardener

Every so often, the entire entertainment industry gets on board with the same cause. And Africa, which happens to be a good one to take, is the cause du jour. Some of the recent barrage has included Hotel Rwanda, the Live 8 shows, celebrity activism a la Bono and Angelina Jolie, the One campaign, and the headline-grabbing latest issue of National Geographic. So, when you approach a project about Africa, you almost have to brace yourself for the eminent preachiness. This movie is no different.

After stunning the world with the superb City of God, director Fernando Meirelles and cinematographer César Charlone are back with "The Constant Gardener", based on the best-selling novel by John le Carré.

The movie opens with a powerful but oddly beautiful scene of the murder of one of the principle characters, Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz). The rest of the movie involves her husband, Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), and his search for the motive behind the killing.

In his introductory scene, Justin is told the news of his wife’s murder. His overly mild reaction sets the mood for his character and shows the audience the direction of his arc. But even death does not stop the eveolution of his wife's character. Tess' initial depiction through flashbacks is counterbalanced by what Justin discovers throughout his investigation. Even the definition of their relationships evolves as he finds out more. This excellent use of Justin's subjective memory gives a dead lead some room to develop.

The movie is essentially a mystery with big bad pharma pulling the strings in the background. The movie holds no punches when it comes to handing down the guilty verdict. Not that the point of the movie is necessarily wrong, but it's hard to get on board with something that is shoved down you throat so forcibly.

Ralph Fiennes is perfect in his role as a timid unemotional man who lets the world, including his wife, walk over him. He shielded himself from the outside world by being the constant gardener. To see the gradual change in his character by the end of the movie is a testament to the great job he did.

The cinematography is also excellent, as should be expected from what we saw with "City of God". Instead of the abrasive style used there, Charlone this time went with muted color filters and hand-held cams that produce an uneasy, suspenseful effect on the viewer. The movie is very well-paced and didn't leave anyone asleep or in the dust of Kenya. If "The Constant Gardener" and "City of God" are any indication of what Meirelles can do, I'll be eagerly awaiting his next film. (rating 7/10)

 

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