2005 Directed by Fernando Meirelles
Justin Quayle is a low-level British diplomat who has always gone about his work very quietly, not causing any problems. But after his radical wife Tessa is killed he becomes determined to find out why, thrusting himself into the middle of a very dangerous conspiracy.
Ralph Fiennes Rachel Weisz Danny Huston Bill Nighy Donald Sumpter Pete Postlethwaite Richard McCabe Hubert Koundé Daniele Harford Bernard Otieno Oduor Damaris Itenyo Agweyu Keith Pearson John Sibi-Okumu Archie Panjabi Gerard McSorley Juliet Aubrey Jacqueline Maribe Donald Apiyo Anneke Kim Sarnau Rupert Simonian
Robert Jones Donald Ranvaud Henning Molfenter Tracey Seaward Thierry Potok Simon Channing Williams Jeff Abberley Julia Blackman Gail Egan Jim Shamoon Mario Zvan
Scion Films Studio Babelsberg Epsilon Motion Pictures UK Film Council Focus Features Potboiler Productions Blue Sky Films
The Constant Gardener - La cospirazione, El Jardinero Fiel, 无国界追凶, 疑云杀机
Fernando Meirelles has this documentary-like style that is both chaotic and restrained, making his films feel immersive and raw. With The Constant Gardener, a seemingly tedious story, he flip-flops between specific times of a relationship and a man’s occupational life. We know how the story ends within the first scene, yet we’re given tricky clues and significant details that all add up.
Sure, it has too much editing and is somewhat difficult to follow at times, but I was surprised at how interesting the conflicts and storylines were. And if anyone deserved that sweet Oscar gold it was Rachel Weisz for her fierce and compassionate performance that shines throughout.
You want me to come home. But I am home.
A week ago a pedestrian product included the line "what is grief, if not love persevering?” and so many people seemed to lose their minds over it, as if it was the greeatest thing ever written. Meanwhile, I kept thinking how 16 years ago there was a movie that actually told a story based on that idea, one that was profound, moving and engaging. This movie.
The Constant Gardener is perhaps the most unique love story I ever witnessed - one where only after a person is gone their partner gets to truly know them and understand their feelings. It's a heavy film but one that's extremely hopeful too -…
After co-directing on of the finest films of the 21st century, Fernando Meirelles made what is now remembered mainly for a single performance. Rachel Weisz won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance here, beating out fresh competition from relative newcomers Michelle Williams and Amy Adams. Weisz’s win felt anomalous for a first-time British nominee in a largely forgotten film.
However upon watching it becomes crystal clear just why Rachel Weisz won. Not only is she arguably the co-lead (recognised rightly by BAFTA) and thereby bolstered her chances due to typical category fraud, but she’s the shining light of The Constant Gardener. Despite this being Meirelles’s work brining a John Le Carré to the screen, there’s a fundamental lack of engagement. Even fairly vivid exploration of an urgent topic can’t save this film from suffering a tedious demise whenever Weisz is absent. I’m grateful we have ‘Oscar winner Rachel Weisz’ even if she perhaps deserved it more for The Favourite.
The Constant Gardener is a compelling political thriller. It does a great job at picking apart global politics, specifically in relation to Africa and the UK. Here is Britain, meddling in the world, straddling the power it holds over poorer nations while obediently following American foreign policy. Having The Constant Gardener not be directed by someone from Europe or the USA was a good move. A first world perspective might not have kept African suffering so central to the narrative. Director Fernando Meirelles brings a humanity to everyone present. He captures Africa as a continent of peoples, not an exoticised fantasy for white saviours. His handheld camera and dutch angles give a sense of realism, but they never become too…
#4 of 12 films in my Adapted Screenplay Challenge (2)
Going into this 477-page novel, I had never read a book by John Le Carré before. In fact, I've read very few spy novels or political thrillers, and I really have no context of comparison for this work.
The story opens at the British High Commission in Nairobi. Sandy Woodrow, Head of Chancery, has just received news of the death of a compatriot, an aid worker named Tessa, near Lake Turkana and the Richard Leaky archaeological site. All evidence seems to indicate murder, and Woodrow has the unenviable task of checking the details and breaking the news to her husband, Justin Quayle, First Secretary in the Chancery, as well as…
Another instance of: “What were they thinking with this title?” Definitely a movie right up my alley and I never had a clue it had truly nothing to do with routinely maintaining a garden.
Rachel Weisz carries the slower first-half with a true firecracker of a performance. What a feisty, determined character and she plays it so well. The second half is more exciting but gets a bit over-complicated/ slightly confusing with a good amount of side characters to keep track of. Still the overall message of the movie comes through strong and is a pretty solid 2000s political thriller.
The Constant Gardener is a master work of suspense brought on by ways of love and deceit.
A political thriller that kept me guessing where it was headed through all the lies and just how cool headed Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) would react to the truths of his wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz) and her life and work even when his suspicions were on the highest of levels.
Politics are the evil that rules the world and it is showcased in this brilliant film.
Highly recommended.
Watched on Amazon Prime
After The Favourite I realised that I urgently have to watch and log some Rachel Weisz movies. So why don't start with the movie that got her the Academy Award?
All I knew about The Constant Gardener was that I started watching the film on TV shortly after it was released, but stopped it at some point because it was simply too boring for me. Now I tried it again and at least kept it up to the end.
First thing I discovered was Ruth Wilson as an extra in the conference scene. Great actress, here nobody knew she would become an acclaimed television actress (Luther, The Affair).
The first half is even quite interesting. The…
There were a lot of things in this movie that should have worked on paper, but just didn't succeed when packaged together. The story itself is good, but it's framed all wrong. There was really no point in telling it from Ralph Fiennes' character's point of view, so the entire plot with Rachel Weisz just seems almost extraneous.
The fact that Rachel Weisz beat both Amy Lou Adams and Michelle Williams for this performance is truly.....remarkable considering she didn't do much!
Pretty slow at times but nonetheless a really good movie. My only gripe with this movie is the title: The Constant Gardener. They could’ve chosen something better
Underlying the hidden surfaces where danger flows, Tessa an outspoken humanitarian and Amnesty activist is brutally murdered with her colleague Dr. Arnold Bluhm. The mystery is significant part of her work from her husband Justin who is a diplomat stationed in Kenya. After her death and rumors of Tessa having an affair surface, Justin starts to investigate what really got Tessa killed, what was she working on and who was he to her in all this.
Directed by Fernando Meirelles, the story unfolds in the past when Tessa met Justin and how they fell in love and married. Tessa has kept her job independent from Justin. Tessa is outspoken, confronting people in important positions while keeping an important secret for…
I think a movie about a man gardening constantly would have been more entertaining.
en vez de the constant gardener debería llamarse the ocasional gardener porque ha jardineado tres veces en toda la película
There was a lot of scenes that were extended for the artistic eye but made me lose interest in the movie. Great acting and interesting story
This works as a political thriller, a love story, and an expose. Ralph Fiennes is heartbreaking as a bereaved husband looking for answers and Rachel Weisz is radiant as his idealistic wife. The supporting cast (Danny Huston, Richard McCabe, Bill Nighy, & Archie Panjabi) is outstanding.
Awards: Oscars-Best Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz) + 3 nominations
Golden Globes-Best Supporting Actress + 2 nominations
SAG Awards-Best Supporting Female Actor
BAFTA-Best Editing + 9 nominations
Cannes-Best Original Score (Alberto Iglesius)
Sublime Meirelles/
The eyes; the hands; stolen glances/
The whole world through a lens.
Is it a love story? Is it a murder mystery? Is it a corporate conspiracy movie? All of the above. It works better than it should, but it's still a bit slow.
Den ehw idea ti eida molis. Einai poutana h oxi? Vlepw dokimanter, romantikh h mysthrio-praktorikh tainia? Kai ta tria logika
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