The Constant Gardener

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The Constant Gardener

R,

2005,

2h 8m,

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

83%

189 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

189 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Assigned to a new post, reserved British diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) relocates to Kenya with his lovely young wife, Tessa (Rachel Weisz), an activist for social justice. When Tessa is found murdered out in the wilderness, circumstances point to her friend, Dr. Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Koundé), but it is soon clear that he's not the killer. Grief-stricken and angry, Justin sets out to uncover the truth behind Tessa's murder -- and in the process, he unearths some disturbing revelations.

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Critics Consensus

The Constant Gardener is a smart, gripping, and suspenseful thriller with rich performances from the leads.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Nov 27, 2007

Fernando Meirelles, codirector of City of God, stresses old-fashioned storytelling and takes full advantage of his cast, including Danny Huston.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Jan 20, 2007

While le Carre's narrative returns an unequivocal guilty verdict on the drug companies, the jury on Meirelles's storytelling abilities remains hung.

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Empire Magazine

Apr 1, 2006

4/5

Serious, topical filmmaking of a very high order.

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Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

May 23, 2022

The Constant Gardener finds and maintains a lovely balance between a post-cold war thriller and a poignant, elegiac story of love and mourning. It is a hell of a film, very recommended if you're in the mood for some real quality viewing.

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Mar 5, 2021

The Constant Gardener disturbs, lingers in the mind, for its images of Africa, images of corporate thuggery, images of well-meaning people drowning in their own self-deception.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Jul 28, 2020

3/5

Poised, intelligent thriller which also points an accusing finger at drug companies dumping obsolete product on third-world countries.

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Hagrid L

Jan 26, 2019

I couldn't even finish this movie. None of the characters are sympathetic! I honestly believe this film won awards based on the subject and story, not on the actual movie. The story of big pharma not caring what its drugs to do to people and people in power abusing that power is a great theme, but it was NOT portrayed well here because of the horrible characters. I should want to root for Tessa and Justin to succeed, instead, I just watched the clock to see how much time I had left in the movie! Tessa is so hard headed, selfish, purposefully naive, and just plain obnoxious that even with her mission to save people she seems like an arrogant brat with no self-control. If she had had ANY self-control and kept her work and disdain for the people in charge hidden she may have succeeded in her mission without dying! Justin just comes off as a bumbling idiot and weak-willed. He comes across like a dutiful puppy that only does what Tessa wants him to and is unsure if she even cares for him. The film plays more like a documentary than a movie. I was so annoyed at the characters I didn't care what happened to them.

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Hagrid S

Oct 24, 2018

A bit too slow for me

Kylo W

Sep 9, 2018

too much shaky cam, big pharma bad, govt pharma collusion, and a 'deep' relationship told in flashback . part The English Patient, part Blood Diamond part Bourne but paced in a manner that makes 2001 look snappy

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Albus L

Jan 13, 2018

A bit annoyingly white washy but the story actually made a lot of sense. It holds together well. Because something similar actually happened in the USA, on the natives, which is the object of another film I've seen. The film get its stride after they catch up with the start event. It continues until the end. Good cinema not too Hollywoodian. Very credible story that John Le Carré cooked up is less outrageous than the truth, according to him, and I believe it.

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Ron M

Oct 8, 2017

HATE THIS MOVIE. THEY KILLED JUSTIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :'( :'( :'( WHY???????????????

Albus W

Jun 29, 2017

A must see drama! Ray Fiennes and Rachel Weisz are incredible to watch!

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Fernando Meirelles

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Justin Quayle

Rachel Weisz

Tessa

Danny Huston

Sandy

Bill Nighy

Sir Bernard Pellegrin

Pete Postlethwaite

Marcus Lorbeer

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Synopsis

Assigned to a new post, reserved British diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) relocates to Kenya with his lovely young wife, Tessa (Rachel Weisz), an activist for social justice. When Tessa is found murdered out in the wilderness, circumstances point to her friend, Dr. Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Koundé), but it is soon clear that he's not the killer. Grief-stricken and angry, Justin sets out to uncover the truth behind Tessa's murder -- and in the process, he unearths some disturbing revelations.

Director: Fernando Meirelles
Producer: Simon Channing Williams
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Caine, John le Carré
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Focus Features
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexual Content|Some Violent Images)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.6M
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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