Every so often, and yet not often enough, you will experience a film that will leave you lost for words; you are left contemplating what exactly it was that rendered you so inarticulate. Sometimes it is not just one tangible thing, but rather the successful combination of all of the aspects of the production that initially appears too overwhelming to express adequately. For me, the visual masterpiece that is The Constant Gardener falls into this venerated category. This film is a truly satisfying cinematic experience.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God), The Constant Gardener is an adaptation of John le Carré's best-selling novel of the same name. Marketed as a thriller, it certainly delivers on the promise, but encompasses much more besides. The themes of love, murder, conspiracy, humour, danger, betrayal, and tragedy are played out against the backdrop of the stimulus for the story: the plight of Africa. Rachel Weizz plays Tessa, the wife of a British ambassador stationed in Kenya who endangers herself by investigating and exposing the corrupt dealings of a pharmaceutical company who are exploiting AIDS victims for their own profit. Her husband Justin (Ralph Fiennes) becomes embroiled in his wife's cause following her brutal murder in the African desert. Flashbacks interspersed throughout the film illustrate to us the evolution of their dynamic relationship, and of Tessa's love affair with Africa. Justin's quest to avenge her murder and to expose her discoveries leads to a frantic chase across continents, and gripping, high-tension drama.

The cinematography throughout Meirelle's thriller is one of the most impressive aspects of its production. The visual quality of the film is such that several of the shots, if frozen, could stand on their own as breathtaking images, independent of the story. The most visually engaging sequences are those featuring the landscapes and townships of Kenya. In The Constant Gardener Africa is portrayed as a tangible feeling, an emotion. Tribal music and loud crowd scenes convey the chaos of the society, and wherever this soundtrack is used throughout the film (e.g. in Berlin) the essence of Africa is immediately evoked.

Both lead actors yield notable performances: Weizz is compelling to watch as the uncompromising and high-spirited Tessa, yet it is in Fiennes's character Justin that the audience invests the most emotion. Fiennes gives an almost suppressed performance which contributes to the rising tension and befits this fast-paced thriller. In The Constant Gardener, Meirelles successfully intertwines the metaphor of Justin tending his garden with the nurturing of his relationship with Tessa, both of which fall into neglect when the plight of the corruption-ravaged continent of Africa invades his senses. Highly recommended.

Rated 15A (see IFCO website for details)
The Constant Gardener is released on 11th November 2005.
The Constant Gardener – Official website