The Constant Gardener

Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz
2005 Focus Features

Both the wife and I enjoyed this film immensely, particularly because it has moments of great power and effectiveness. To give you a taste, a low-level British official to Kenya gets mixed up in a power game after his wife is brutally murdered - involving a drug company and some aspect of the British government. His wife however (whom he married on a whirlwind fling) turns out to be involved (which is, of course, what got her killed) . . . .

and that's just about enough to get you started. Don't want to spoil any more.

The two main aspects of the movie that were good for further discussions between the spouse and I afterward were:

One - the depiction of poverty in Kenya and southern Sudan. Note to movie viewers who watch for craft: watch how Fiennes' character has changed (as he echoes a sentiment from Wiesz earlier in the movie) onboard the UN plane, as he tries to convince the pilot to take a young girl with them.

Two - also alludes to Fiennes' character: my wife was disconcerted by his lack of grief over his wife's death. What I extrapolated was this: the character is a botonist and slightly aloof by nature and doesn't really seem confortable in any social situation and shows little emotion of any sort. Add to that the aspect that this woman just breezed into his life in London and then works her way into marriage just so she can follow him to Kenya. When the mystery starts to reveal itself he naturally has the question of "Did she marry me just to get to the country?"

However, one of the brilliant aspects of the movie, for me, was the revelation of the clues that she left behind. As Fiennes begins to investigate what she was investigating, he not only discovers what she did, but he also discovered that she loved him far more intensely than he ever loved her. And to me, that was the most tragic part of the movie - this realization that her love was pure and emotional and intense . . . that she knew him, trusted him, believed in him. More than he ever did in her. That is both beautiful and sad.

Exquisitely bittersweet.

VG





P.S. I thought I'd also add a map of the region depicted in the movie. Not to say that none y'all know where this place IS or nuthin' . . . but they DO say that yanks are the worst at geography!!