The Constant Gardener
March 2006 Reviewed by: Roger Kanno Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

You may be familiar with director Fernando Meirelles’ work from the amazing Brazilian film, City of God, which earned him a nomination for an Academy Award. In his latest effort, The Constant Gardener, he brings an authentic third-world feel to this film based on the book by British novelist John Le Carré. Set in Kenya, it tells the story of corporate greed and government complicity in the practice of drug testing by pharmaceutical companies in the third world.

Ralph Fiennes plays Justin Quayle, a mid-level British diplomat whose career is often at odds with the idealism of his activist wife, Tessa. She is played brilliantly by Rachel Weisz, who deserves all of the accolades that she has received for her performance. They are an unlikely couple not just because of their differing careers. The fiery Tessa appears to be the polar opposite of the shy and timid Justin. The story develops in non-linear fashion through multiple flashbacks. Treachery and deception surround the complex series of events that unfold. As Justin investigates the mystery, he uncovers the corruption in the pharmaceutical company’s drug trials and the extreme lengths that they take to protect their investment. He also learns things about Tessa that he did not know. We discover these revelations along with him as his character becomes more assertive and self-confident in the search for answers. The more he learns, the more his love for Tessa grows, as does his resolve to find the truth.

The entire cast is excellent, but the film belongs to Rachel Weisz. Her screen time may be limited, but the entire plot revolves around her. Her portrayal of Tessa is full of nuance and contains moments of passion, vulnerability and strength. Ralph Fiennes’ performance is no less memorable. While Justin is more stoic, he is as full of conviction as Tessa, although you might not know it from his careful and measured demeanor. The Constant Gardener is about contrasts. Although Justin is very constant, he turns out to be an extremely impassioned man, and the film is as much a suspenseful mystery as it is a beautiful love story.

The video quality of this DVD is much better than you might expect from a film with a relatively low budget. The picture occasionally exhibits some grain and appears slightly overexposed, which was probably a stylistic decision to add to the film’s impoverished third-world feeling. The colors are a bit cool, with a slight bluish tinge in some scenes, but the picture is always sharp with good detail. The audio quality is also quite good if somewhat nondescript. Much of the film’s soundtrack consists of dialogue that is monophonic and limited to the center channel. The surround channels are used sparingly, but sometimes aggressively to provide an involving auditory experience. However, the dialogue-heavy soundtrack suits the deliberate pace and subdued nature of the film. Music is used effectively throughout; the score utilizes African rhythms and vocals that are well recorded and have a pleasing surround ambience. The extras consist of only a few deleted and extended scenes and three weak production documentaries.

Some might think that The Constant Gardener is a bit too constant in its measured pace. It is not as flashy or eye catching as City of God, but it is just as powerful. Fernando Meirelles has crafted an exceptional film with standout performances by Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes. It is one of the best films of the year and worth seeking out on DVD.

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