LuckyWill"The Constant Gardener" DVD Review
August 31st 2006 22:18
The “Constant Gardener” - while not new - is still a relevant political thriller in a noughties spate alongside “Syriana”, “Lord of War” and “Munich”. While all delving into international relations against private business interests, it’s less bluntly directed and uncompromising than the aforementioned but what it is though, is guarded, truthful and ultimately haunting.
Delicately directed by City of Gods’ Fernando Meirelles, he explores the contradictory relationship between the films protagonists. One - a cunning and calculating journalist/activist named Tessa, played by Rachel Weisz known for her casting in “The Mummy” and its sequel “The Mummy Returns”, and the other – Justin, played by Ralph Fiennes, best known for his role in “The English Patient”, as a passive and composed British diplomat. They meet at a conference where he gives a talk until impulsively she can’t hold herself back from heckling his statements. Congenially, Justin speaks to her after the lecture and both strike up an agreement of mutual satisfaction – namely one of curiosity, the other of opportunism.
Then, the film steps up a gear. The location is remote Africa, impoverished and needy. The two are romantically linked and his connections and position allow for her to keep studiously working on learning the shady dealings of the exclusive pharmaceutical relations within the area. What she uncovers later gets her killed and Justin is left alone, confused and angry. No longer can he remain impartial. Through his investigation he begins to pull at the wool that’s been placed over his eyes by the police, his friends and the government. More notably the intensity is most severe in one scene involving a quick take-off in a plane amidst the terror of guerilla’s invading the area with Justin and a small boy that’s just heartbreaking, emphasizing the precarious cultural inequalities faced on a global scale.
Overall, Ralph Fiennes is quietly gripping and plays this understated role remarkably. Rachel Weisz is brilliant, capturing a character who is almost reckless - throwing herself from this to that in sate of her ideals. On later inspection however, can be reasoned to being simply impulsive and passionate against an environment of deception. What this film cleverly does is set up a distinct opposable view of each character, and only at the end do we really see the previously absent reason for why they decided to get married. Before this, it’s left unacknowledged to the credit of this unfolding thriller and finally reveals the political nature they both prize so highly. Because, why would a rash, morally-driven, environmentally minded American activist and a gentle, pacifist English businessman with conflicting interests get together? It’s the one thing politics revolves around always and you will have to watch to find out.
Rating: 3/1/2 starz
*Images from www.wikipedia.org
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