A couple of nights ago Marcia and I finished watching “The Constant Gardener” starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. The movie is based on the John le Carré novel of the same name. We watched 3/4 of the movie before going to Virginia, then watched the last bit two nights ago.
From the Focus Features write-up (the “studio” that made the movie) here is a plot synopsis:
In a remote area of Northern Kenya, activist Tessa Quayle (Weisz) is found brutally murdered. Tessa’s companion, a doctor, appears to have fled the scene, and the evidence points to a crime of passion. Members of the British High Commission in Nairobi assume that Tessa’s widower, their mild-mannered and unambitious colleague Justin Quayle (Fiennes), will leave the matter to them. They could not be more wrong. Haunted by remorse and jarred by rumors of his late wife’s infidelities, Quayle surprises everyone by embarking on a personal odyssey that will take him across three continents. Using his privileged access to diplomatic secrets, he will risk his own life, stopping at nothing to uncover and expose the truth - a conspiracy more far-reaching and deadly than Quayle could ever have imagined.
Though I have heard of le Carré, I had never heard of this book. From what is said, it’s a best-seller, but that doesn’t mean much. I have seen a few reviews of it and they seem to be rather extreme: either loving the story of love lost or hating the position of bringing down the big pharmaceutical companies. It is very typical for many to say that the book is always better then the movie. I have come across a couple of movies that, though not as good as the book, were still great movies. “The Lord of the Rings” is an obvious choice, but “The Hunt for Red October” also falls into this category for me. I am wondering if this may fall into that category as well if I read the book.
To be honest, the first 20 minutes or so had me confused. It didn’t seem to be going anywhere, or it would jump around. Part of this came too from the way the movie was shot, with unsteady cameras at times. But once the positions of the characters were set, I found it gripping. It was a matter of structure. Tessa’s part comes mostly from flashbacks of Justin’s, since her death is one of the first things we find out about. There are sections where things are played out to give us hints at what is going on, but there is still a cover up to us the viewer. Or so I felt. Part of the politics that are played out seemed to be going over my head at first. Maybe it was supposed to since we follow Justin around who too is trying to piece things together. But in the end it becomes clear when others show their cards to Justin.
The ending to is very haunting. Justin’s love goes farther then I was originally led to believe. It is fitting, because the viewer learns that Tessa’s love for Justin went further then we are led to believe as well, though that comes through in smaller bits. Their meeting seemed very suspect to me. It gives you the feeling that the infidelities that Tessa is accused of could very well be true, and that her career agenda is what led her to Justin and their marriage. But it is all put together well to make the movie very interesting.
I was very happy with renting this movie. I think many would find it a very good choice as well.
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