Fernando Meirelles followed his worldwide acclaimed "City of God" with this story of intrigue, politics, gardening, pharmaceutical companies, murder, and, above all, love. The story revolves around Justin Quayle, played by Ralph Fiennes, and Tessa Quayle, Rachel Weisz won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tessa, and their involvement in politics in Africa. Tessa is the livelier of the pair, she's high spirited and goes after what she wants. Justin, on the other hand, is a more calm, laid-back kind of person. However, when Tessa is murdered in order to cover up government involvement in the sales of medicine in the continent, Justin takes a more active role; his role is not of vengeance, but a determination to finish Tessa's work of bringing light to the matter at hand. Corporate pharmaceutical companies are hiding something and it's up to him to uncover what.
Danny Huston provides great support as Sandy Woodrow, the shady politician who tries to frame Tessa and plants false information around Justin's house in order to help with the cover-up. His character is as slimy as he needs to be and does not hide his lust for Tessa. In fact, he uses it as leverage for providing Tessa with some of the information he's supposed to be hiding. The love story, unlike many other films, is not a manipulative one, instead it provides ground for flaws and conflict between the two characters. Tessa's actions and activities are not pleasing the government, so Justin has to answer and is asked to keep his wife "reigned in." However, Tessa is determined and passionate, where Justin appears to have simply settled in and conformed to having to do his duties. The contrast of characters plays well throughout the beginning of the film and grants development of individuality of the two, as well as them together as a couple.
Bill Nighy plays a masterful Sir Bernard Pellegrin; an ominously menacing old politician deeply involved with the corporation he's trying to protect and protected almost perfectly in his role in government. His character has stature higher than Justin which provides him with a holier-than-thou attitude that becomes the catalyst for Justin to continue Tessa's work. The director uses the landscape of Europe as well as Africa to let the viewer enjoy the vistas of the several metropolises in central Europe and the vast deserts of Africa. The cultures and peoples clash in the film through the aesthetics set by the camerawork. Europe is booming with technology and monetary advancement. Africa, on the other hand, is far from achieving such status, socially or economically.
Nevertheless, the director never forgets that at the center of it all is the love between Tessa and Justin. Revenge is not enough to avenge Tessa, and the director as well as Fiennes deliver an incredible portrayal of the story without minimizing, stereotyping, demeaning, or forgetting the people of Africa or those who seek to help them. It also doesn't take a political stance. It creates a well-framed love story that needs to be served with justice, and Justin does just that.
Arnoldo Rivas
The Constant Gardener
Fernando Meirelles followed his worldwide acclaimed "City of God" with this story of intrigue, politics, gardening, pharmaceutical companies, murder, and, above all, love. The story revolves around Justin Quayle, played by Ralph Fiennes, and Tessa Quayle, Rachel Weisz won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tessa, and their involvement in politics in Africa. Tessa is the livelier of the pair, she's high spirited and goes after what she wants. Justin, on the other hand, is a more calm, laid-back kind of person. However, when Tessa is murdered in order to cover up government involvement in the sales of medicine in the continent, Justin takes a more active role; his role is not of vengeance, but a determination to finish Tessa's work of bringing light to the matter at hand. Corporate pharmaceutical companies are hiding something and it's up to him to uncover what.
Danny Huston provides great support as Sandy Woodrow, the shady politician who tries to frame Tessa and plants false information around Justin's house in order to help with the cover-up. His character is as slimy as he needs to be and does not hide his lust for Tessa. In fact, he uses it as leverage for providing Tessa with some of the information he's supposed to be hiding. The love story, unlike many other films, is not a manipulative one, instead it provides ground for flaws and conflict between the two characters. Tessa's actions and activities are not pleasing the government, so Justin has to answer and is asked to keep his wife "reigned in." However, Tessa is determined and passionate, where Justin appears to have simply settled in and conformed to having to do his duties. The contrast of characters plays well throughout the beginning of the film and grants development of individuality of the two, as well as them together as a couple.
Bill Nighy plays a masterful Sir Bernard Pellegrin; an ominously menacing old politician deeply involved with the corporation he's trying to protect and protected almost perfectly in his role in government. His character has stature higher than Justin which provides him with a holier-than-thou attitude that becomes the catalyst for Justin to continue Tessa's work. The director uses the landscape of Europe as well as Africa to let the viewer enjoy the vistas of the several metropolises in central Europe and the vast deserts of Africa. The cultures and peoples clash in the film through the aesthetics set by the camerawork. Europe is booming with technology and monetary advancement. Africa, on the other hand, is far from achieving such status, socially or economically.
Nevertheless, the director never forgets that at the center of it all is the love between Tessa and Justin. Revenge is not enough to avenge Tessa, and the director as well as Fiennes deliver an incredible portrayal of the story without minimizing, stereotyping, demeaning, or forgetting the people of Africa or those who seek to help them. It also doesn't take a political stance. It creates a well-framed love story that needs to be served with justice, and Justin does just that.
