By: debbie lynn elias
Talk about a surprising turn of events – a film that actually does justice to the book from which it was adapted. (How often you ever read that line from me?) In what is indisputably the best film adaption of any John le Carre novel, “The Constant Gardner” pairs up Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz in an intelligent and interesting story of political intrigue, greed and corruption written for the screen by Jeffrey Caine. Caine, whose best work to date, I believe, was “Golden Eye” with Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007, is no stranger to action, adventure, intrigue and romance, so it comes as no surprise to me that this adaptation is as high caliber as it is. And like a double edged sword, “The Constant Gardener” is both a thriller and a romance.
Justin Quayle is a diplomat for the British foreign service who has recently been sent to Africa. He is resigned to his station in life, appearing to be someone who would be more at home in the post-Colonial days of the British Empire. Soft-spoken and seemingly unaffected by the world around him, thunder roars and lightening clashes on his first meeting with Tessa, an outspoken political activist who works as an aid worker to the impoverished people of the world. Speaking at a lecture, Justin is more than taken aback when he is vociferously beaten by this fearless young woman over Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War. Faced with an unbridled passion and intelligence the likes of which he has never seen, Justin is more than drawn to Tessa. And she to him. Everything that she is, he wishes he could be. Likewise for her. Together, they are complete.
Fast forward several years to the present. Our happy couple have been in Africa for some time. Justin, as a junior agent for the foreign service and Tessa as an aid worker. It is Justin that brought Tessa to this world, something that he will never forget. Justin has just learned that the bodies of a white woman and African doctor have been found on the side of a ride in the Kenyan outback. Justin is certain the woman is Tessa. Paralyzed in time and space, Justin recalls his life with Tessa from that first meeting to their marriage, their love, their comfortable erotic passion, their fights and his fears. And given his certainty, Justin sets out to find out the truth about her death and allay rumors that are swirling as to Tessa’s true character and life, and in so doing, learns the truth about her life, and even more about himself. As if sitting in the passenger seat with Justin as he drives through the rural African shantytown, we learn about Tessa along with Justin. Sadly though, it’s as if Justin is meeting her for the first time as well. Taking us from London to Africa to Germany, we are along for a ride filled with international intrigue and illusion seeing first-hand the differentials between the First World and the Third World and the politics involved in something as simple as supplying medicine to treat the sick; politics that may have cost Tessa her life and which may aid in Justin finding his.
Ralph Fiennes is ideally cast as Justin. I can think of no one better to play this role. Tight-lipped and reticently cold, Fiennes has just the right balance of temperance and tenderness combined with an untapped edginess that catapults his performance into one of multi-dimensional, cathartic and explosively enticing. Rachel Weisz, who has long been a favorite of mine, is a perfect choice for Tessa. Already known for playing firey, headstrong and passionate women, this is the perfect showcase for her, giving Tessa a fearlessly reckless intelligence that triggers the film (and which should finally push her into “stardom”.) The chemistry between Weisz and Fiennes is explosively honest making the story itself even more heartbreaking than on paper. Hubert Kounde gives a more than admirable performances as Tessa’ research companion, Arnold Bluhm, as does Danny Huston with his take on Sandy Woodrow, Justin’s boss.
Director Fernando Meirelles solidifies his position in the film community as one with the ability to integrate the destructive nature of social and political forces with the immersion into day-to-day lives of innocents, all the while maintaining the constant conundrum of balancing life and death. Using a hand held camera for Justin’s flashbacks, Meirelles reinforces the fragility of life and love, artfully blending the story together with powerful subtleties resulting in a dynamic story of two journeys that co-exist, ultimately becoming one. Progressively paced, Meirelles allows the suspense to slowly build without sacrificing the details of the original book or the patience of the moviegoer. Cesar Charlone’s cinematography only adds to this already perfect mix.
Ever respectful of the le Carre book, Meirelles’ vision and Jeffrey Caine’s script make for a work that successfully blends suspense, romance, politics and social consciousness into a film that will stay with you long after the house lights dim – and one that screams for Oscar recognition all around.
Justin Quayle: Ralph Fiennes Tessa: Rachel Weisz Arnold Bluhn: Hubert Kounde Sandy: Danny Huston
Directed by Fernando Meirelles. Written by Jeffrey Caine, from the novel by John le Carré. A Focus Features Film. Rated R. (2 hrs. 9 min)
