The Constant Gardener (2005)

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General		Extras
Category	Thriller	Main Menu Audio & Animation Deleted Scenes Additional Footage-Extended Scene: Haruma-Play In Kibera Featurette-Embracing Africa: Filming In Kenya Featurette-John Le Carre: From Page To The Screen Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Anatomy Of A Global Thriller: Behind The Scenes
Rating
Year Of Production	2005
Running Time	123:18 (Case: 129)
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Language Select Then Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	2,4,5	Directed By	Fernando Meirelles
Studio Distributor	Universal Pictures Home Video	Starring	Ralph Fiennes Rachel Weisz Hubert Koundé Danny Huston Daniele Harford Packson Ngugi Damaris Itenyo Agweyu Bernard Otieno Oduor Bill Nighy Keith Pearson John Sibi-Okumu Donald Sumpter Archie Panjabi
Case	?
RPI	$39.95	Music	Alberto Iglesias

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s) Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired Spanish	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

The Constant Gardener (2005) is a complex love story about an emotionally guarded man who comes to love his young misunderstood wife after her unexpected death. This engaging film is also a beautifully conceived global political thriller concerning the plights of Kenya and Britain. The film is based on the novel of the same name by celebrated British author John le Carre who is renowned for his spy novels. A number of John le Carre novels have been adapted for the screen including The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965), The Looking Glass War (1969) and The Russia House (1990).

One of the interesting choices in adapting The Constant Gardener for screen was the choice of director. Initially British director Mike Newell was to direct but left the production when he was offered Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). His replacement was Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles whose film Cidade de Deus (City of God) (2002) achieved global success on its release. Mierelles would offer the British production not only his unique visual style but his understanding of subtle emotional connections and humanity between ordinary citizens and his understanding of oppression and conspiracy.

The Constant Gardener is Justin Quayle, marvellously embodied by British actor Ralph Fiennes. Quayle is a British Diplomat, an introverted and intelligent man who is immediately attracted to Tessa, a young passionate social activist. Rachel Weisz is magnificent as Tessa as she is effortlessly charming and yet mystifying as her character harbours questionable motivations. Tessa is a complex character who equally loves Justin but is unable to truly reveal herself to her husband. On one of her many trips to Kibera, Kenya she kisses her husband goodbye and waves emphatically - this would be one of Justin Quayle's last moments with his wife.

After her sudden brutal death Quayle is forced to find out what happened to his wife. This journey will put him face to face with a distressing global conspiracy which could threaten millions of lives and leaves Quayle questioning his own ethics.

This thrilling tale at its simplest is about an ordinary man forced into an extraordinary situation as Justin Quayle travels the world in search of the truth. The film becomes most stunning when the narrative is located in Kibera. It is an unnerving and real environment which is harsh and brutal and yet beautifully structured. Mierelles rightfully choose to film on location in Kenya and the result is perfectly conceived as Mierelles did not interfere with the small towns and slums and instead merely shot the scenes with the Kenyans going about their daily lives in the background. In one delightful scene an animated Rachael Weisz shares unscripted greetings with numerous vibrant Kenyan children. This lent a documentary-like realism to the production and even the numerous flashback scenes are astonishing as Mierelles asked Fiennes to film his point of view shots.

The international cast includes Hubert Kounde, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy and Pete Postlethwaite who are all excellent in their difficult roles. This film is organic and honest in its portrayal of relationships and while it does depict difficult issues it rightfully raises them to the audience. I thoroughly enjoyed The Constant Gardener - it is a well crafted film with excellent performances.

Personally, I felt the standout performance was by Ralph Fiennes whose character Justin Quayle turns from earnest and passive to haunted and obsessive as he tragically begins to finally understand and desperately fall in love with the memory of his wife. His grief turns to horror and Fiennes perfectly captured Justin Quayle's internal struggle and decadence.

Highly Recommended.

Video

Thankfully Cesar Charlone's impressive cinematography has been perfectly captured in this transfer. The Constant Gardener is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen and 16x9 enhanced and overall looks fantastic.

As mentioned there is a documentary look to the film and a majority of the film has slight grain which lends a sense of realism to the visuals. The image is sharp and well defined with shadow detail and the skin tones look natural.

Colours are somewhat muted until the narrative is located in Kenya - these visuals truly set the film alight as the harsh landscape and culture is filmed respectfully and with admiration. There are no issues regarding film artefacts or compression and the average bitrate is 6.93 Mb/s. The subtitles are true to the onscreen dialogue.

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Audio

The English Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s) soundtrack is also excellent. An optional Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s) soundtrack is also offered. The film may be dialogue driven but in respect to this soundtrack it is still profound and resonates due to the memorable score of Alberto Iglesia.

This is a truly encompassing experience with moderate use of the subwoofer, which is fitting to the visuals. A number of emotional songs feature throughout the film from artists such as Ayub Ogada, Cibelle and Necessary Noise.

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Deleted Scenes

4 Deleted Scenes (10.33)

Additional Footage-Extended Scene: Haruma-Play In Kibera

The full length version of the play which focuses on Aids (9.41).

Embracing Africa: Filming In Kenya

This is a feature which details the trials and tribulations of the production and in particular filming in Kenya. The cast and crew speak earnestly about how being face to face with difficult conditions has affected them. It is nice to know a charity was set up in exchange for use of the locations. (9.29)

John le Carre: From Page To The Screen

A short feature featuring an interview with author John le Carre who details the development of the narrative for the novel. He also speaks candidly of the on screen adaptation and his connection to the characters and the differences in the book and the screenplay. Also features director Fernando Meirelles. (8.08)

Anatomy Of A Global Thriller: Behind The Scenes

A standard making-of feature which details the narrative of the film and includes the cast's impressions of the film and director Fernando Meirelles' style. (11.36)

The presentation of the R1 and R4 are identical except the R1 includes trailers for Brick, Cinderella Man and Law and Order.

The Constant Gardener is an excellent film and despite being both a love story and a political thriller it is well balanced and remains intimate. I thoroughly enjoyed the complex characterisations and the acting is first-rate. Fernando Meirelles has excelled at bringing difficult subject matter to the screen and never shies away from the true cause of oppression and corruption. Meirelles also warmly visualised Kenya and it is clear he has an admiration for the culture and wishes to preserve the location which Ralph Fiennes' perfectly described as embodying a 'severe beauty'.

The DVD is nicely presented with an excellent transfer and soundtrack and a small set of nicely produced extras. I would have liked a commentary by cast and crew but overall the presentation of the film is very good.

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