‘Gardener’ blossoms as excellent drama

Some nasty things are found under rocks, especially in foreign gardens. Fortunately, the only thing found in the film “The Constant Gardener” is an excellent piece of cinema.

“The Constant Gardener” is directed by Fernando Meirelles, the man responsible for the critically acclaimed “City of God.” Based on the John Le Carré novel, it tells the story of Justin Quayle, a simple British diplomat played by Ralph Fiennes, who is trying to figure out why his wife was found dead in a dry African lakebed.

That isn’t the only question that is plaguing him. Just what had his activist wife Tessa been so worked up about before she left? And why had she been spending so much time with her African companion Dr. Arnold Bluhm, who has disappeared all of a sudden? Finding the answers to settle his mind would be easier if Quayle’s colleagues didn’t keep telling him to quit looking. Is there something more sinister at work here, or is Quayle’s mind cracking under intense paranoia? His search will take him on an adventure across Europe and Africa.

Meirelles jumps the story back and forth in time as the story progresses, much as he did in “City of God.” Here, the effect is used to give the audience a glimpse into Quayle’s mind and slowly unravel the film’s mysteries.

The most memorable part of “The Constant Gardener” is the cinematography. The phrase “visually stunning” is one that is perhaps overused in movie reviews, but here, it is an understatement. The vibrant, sweeping vistas of Africa and the cold, blue hues used for Britain will pull you right in. Some shots of the African landscape are absolutely gasp-inducing. The movie is worth seeing for the visuals alone.

Meirelles is also beginning to show a certain flair for filming third-world squalor. His portrayal of the daily life of the people in Africa is unflinching, gritty and heartbreaking. The movie isn’t easy to watch during certain parts, but you won’t be able to look away.

Some great acting further supports the film. Fiennes works well as the quiet and unassuming man who has his whole world turned upside down. Rachel Weisz is charming as always as his wife Tessa, and Danny Huston is wonderfully two-faced as Quayle’s friend and co-worker Sandy.

But the acting highlight of the film has to be Bill Nighy as the prim Sir Bernard Pellegrin, a high-ranking British official who seems to be hiding something from Quayle. He plays the role with a subtle humor that belies what a potentially dangerous man Pellegrin really is.

The film does have a couple weak spots. The development of the relationship between Justin and Tessa is perhaps handled a little too quickly. One moment they’re going for a drink, and the next they’re sleeping together.

Another problem is an impassioned speech by Tessa’s cousin at the end of the film. It comes off as a bit too Hollywood and is borderline preachy.

There is also a lot of information to digest. Characters spout names, places and organizations at a frightening pace. A second viewing of the film is almost required to get everything straight.

Luckily, the movie is so well done and powerful that multiple viewings are hardly a chore.

Grade: A-