|
Actors: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Pete Postlethwaite
|
|
| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Constant Gardener |
|---|
In "The Constant Gardener", based on a John LeCarré novel of the same name, Ralph Fiennes plays a somewhat naive, dull British diplomat. While delivering a speech on behalf of his boss before a university crowd, Fiennes' character, named Justin Quayle, is challenged on aspects of British foreign policy by a feisty activist, Tessa (played by Rachel Weisz). Tessa seems touched by Justin's gentleness and sincerity, and he is excited by her energy and accepting of her politics.
When Justin is assigned to a posting in Kenya, Tessa insists on accompanying him, as his wife. They settle into diplomats' quarters in Nairob, where Justin works for the British High Commission and Tessa works with a local doctor, Arnold Bluhm, in promoting AIDS awareness and testing in remote villages. Through her work in villages and her connections with international NGOs in the health field, Tessa becomes aware of the not-so-altruistic motives of pharmaceutical companies dispensing drugs for AIDS patients. Tessa observes, researches, gathers information and writes a potentially explosive report on the practices of these companies and their true reasons for dispensing drugs in Africa. Although Justin is not aware of the report, Tessa negotiates with one of Justin's High Commission colleagues to bring the report to the attention of authorities in Britain.
Tessa's and Arnold's work, however, generates suspicion and leads to their brutal murder. Justin is not satisfied with letting the High Commission manage the inquiry into his wife's death, and decides to further explore the matter. He learns of the report, and of his government's complicity in the dealings of the pharmaceutical companies. Leaving Kenya for Britain, and then Europe, Justin follows the trail of his wife's research and meets with activists in Europe and Africa who fill him in on the pharmaceutical companies' deadly drug trials on impoverished populations. Justin realizes that, alone, he cannot change this state of affairs that is larger than he is, but he can come to terms with his wife's death and his naivete.
--Jan Arata, Resident Scholar
|
| Analysis of The Constant Gardener |
|---|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1980's-1999
Polit/Social/Race/Gender activism
Yes
Plotlet:
- fights between haves and have-nots
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Culture clash?
- visiting a different culture
Culture of surrounding area:
- African Black
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- diplomat
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Unclothed?
- Chest and Buttocks
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) long straight
Body type
- (woman) average
Unclothed?
- buttocks and chest
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Africa
Yes
Kind of Africa:
- Black Africa
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to torture
Movie makes you feel...
- thoughtful
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
- seeing breasts
- seeing nude male butt
- sex under blankets
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- English
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Is this movie based on a
- book
|
|
Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Jan Arata
SCHOLARS:
|
|
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
|
