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Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite ... see more see more... , Pernilla August , Donald Sumpter , Hubert Kounde , Archie Panjabi , Daniele Harford , Packson Ngugi , Damaris Itenyo Agweyu , Bernard Otieno Oduor

A man discovers a deadly secret when he tries to find out who killed the woman he loves in this suspense drama based on a novel by John Le Carré. Justin Quale (Ralph Fiennes) is a low-level British di... read more read more...plomat who has been given a new assignment in Kenya. Justin's wife, Tessa (Rachel Weisz), is an activist with a keen interest in issues of poverty and social justice; Justin urges her to avoid getting too deeply involved in the people living in Kenya, who are constantly dogged by poverty, but she shows little interest in obeying these instructions. This isn't the only area where Tessa has disregarded her husband, who suspects that she may have had an affair - for she started spending time with a handsome doctor once they settled in Kenya. One day, Tessa disappears, and is found brutally murdered; officials believe that she was murdered by the doctor after some sort of argument. However, before long Justin becomes convinced that there was a larger scheme that led to Tessa's death, and he begins digging into areas where he's not especially welcome, given his reputation as a man willing to let the wealthy and powerful do as they will. The Constant Gardener was the first English-speaking feature from Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles, who directed the international success City of God. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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81% liked it

196,404 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

181 critics

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Fernando Meirelles

Release Date: August 31, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 10, 2006

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Stats: 9,630 reviews

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Scene from The Constant Gardener (2005) Scene from The Constant Gardener (2005) Scene from The Constant Gardener (2005) Ralph Fiennes as Justin Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005) Rachel Weisz Rachel Weisz asTessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005) Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener Rachel Weisz Ralph Fiennes in The Constant Gardener (2005) Rachel Weisz asTessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005) Ralph Fiennes as Justin Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005) Ralph Fiennes as Justin Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005) The Constant Gardener Ralph Fiennes as Justin Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005) Ralph Fiennes in The Constant Gardener (2005) The Constant Gardener Scene from The Constant Gardener (2005) Rachel Weisz asTessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005)
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Flixster Reviews (9,630)

  • fb701560354
    January 15, 2012
    fb701560354
    Fernando Meirelles has created a great suspense thriller here with The Constant Gardener. Based on John Le Carre's book of the same name, the film is riveting from start to finish and is carried by two fantastic performances from Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. The Constant Gar... read moredener is a gripping, suspenseful thriller that features beautiful the beautifully photographed landscapes of Kenya, and two great performances from the leads. A first-rate spy thriller.
  • blkbomb
    December 14, 2011
    blkbomb
    Lorbeer: Big pharmaceuticals are right up there with the arms dealers. 

    "Love. At any cost."

    The Constant Gardener isn't a favorite of mine, but it is such a well crafted film on every level. Ralph Fiennes gives one of his, if not his best, performances of his career. I'm also ... read morenot a fan of Rachel Weisz normally, but in this movie she gives a spectacular performance. It's definitely going to go down as her career defining performance. The story is captivating and extremely well told.

    If the film has any problem at all, it would be the lulls. There are moments in the film, where I just couldn't get into what was going on. The movie has very political issues in the background. Rachel Weisz's character was trying to fight a pharmaceutical company that was giving out medicine in Africa. The setting is a ill Africa, where sickness and death is an everyday affair.

    The plot is all about a guy who lost his wife and now is trying to figure out exactly what happened to her. He is told that she was unfaithful to him and he really doesn't know what to believe on that subject. But hearing those rumors doesn't stop him from going to extreme measures to figure out why his wife is dead. The film manages to be extremely suspenseful at times, as the story unfolds and we start to see what is going on.
  • jamers2011
    December 6, 2011
    jamers2011
    The great political thriller of 2005. Rachel Wiesz is fantastic in her Oscar winning performance...I had previously thought Amy Adams deserved the award that year but Weisz is excellent here. Great script and good editing. Well-done drama, one of the best of 2005. Nominated for 4... read more Academy Awards, The Constant Gardener is a must see.
  • cosmo313
    March 30, 2011
    cosmo313
    This had the potential to be a really fascinating, gripping, and interesting film. It sure has an intriguing story. However, this really falters, and it makes me wonder if I may have been too nice in my assessment of the only other Meirelles film I've seen.

    The main issues he... read morere are that the whole conspiracy/cover up and evil corporation angles have been done a lot of times, and usually far better. I know there were good intentions with this, but it seems all over the place and self aware in its attempt to be tought provoking and important. That's fine, but I was bored. This film is slow, unengaging, and unsure of whether it would rather be a mystery thriller with political/social undertones or the study of a an trying to really learn who his wife was.

    The look and cinematography didn't seem all that remarkable and I didn't really buy the extreme and unnecessary measures taken by the antagonists. I did like the acting though. It was nicely restrained, and ytou could tell they all tried to make the best with the crap they were given, especially Fiennes. Also, why not just play it straightforward? What's wrong with that?

    I should probably be a bit harsher on this, but they did at least try, even if it wasn't very hard and fell way short of the mark.
  • emilebond007
    January 12, 2011
    emilebond007
    Amazing cinematography and editing.
  • LWOODS04
    December 18, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Hubert Koundé, Danny Huston, Daniele Harford, Packson Ngugi, Damaris Itenyo Agweyu, Bernard Otieno Oduor, Bill Nighy, Keith Pearson, Archie Panjabi

    Director: Fernando Meirelles

    Summary: Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), a member of the Brit... read moreish High Commission based in Africa, launches a quest for the truth and begins his own international investigation when his wife (Rachel Weisz, in an Oscar-winning turn) is murdered. Not even the rumors of his wife's infidelity will stop him from uncovering what really happened to her -- a conspiracy that's much more dangerous than he ever imagined.

    My Thoughts: "One of the smartest thriller-suspense-drama made movie's I have seen. The acting and directing is spot on. Ralph Fiennes portrays a man in turmoil like no other actor. You see it all in his face. All his emotions goes right through you. It's a sad story and he does an outstanding job in this film. Rachel Weisz is just as fantastic as well in this film. Fernando Meirelles' edgy style of camera work really fit the film well. The story is a bit of a love story but it also shows us what can happen to the most vulnerable people when corrupt governments and greedy corporations desire money over decency. The ending was both satisfying and enlightening. A must see."
  • stevenecarrier
    November 27, 2010
    stevenecarrier
    Director Fernando Meirelles makes some interesting choices with his essentially old-fashioned conspiracy picture. Meirelles crafts an aggressive feel of constant back and forth between past and present, love and death, good and evil. The film is visually striking but it almost hi... read morenders the final outcome. The images are so busy that it exhausts the eyes, making the film seems a lot longer than it actually is. Regardless, Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz (in an Oscar winning role) give the intense human connection that propels the picture. Unique, romantic, unsettling and exciting in equal measure, "The Constant Gardener" is one of the finer examples of message cinema from the 00s.
  • lewiskendell
    August 18, 2010
    lewiskendell
    "I know all your secrets, Tess. I think I understand you now."

    When British diplomat Justin Quayle's (Ralph Fiennes) wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz) is found dead in Kenya, is starts him on a journey to uncover many secrets. Those of his wife, as well as others.

    The Constant Gardner... read more truly deserves the label of an intelligent movie. Often, the viewer is given a bit of information presented one way, and only later sees how it truly fits into the mystery of Tessa's life, death, and the overarching story of unethical practices by pharmaceutical companies in Africa. The narrative is non-linear, going from the past to the present and back again, while weaving an ultimately touching story of Tessa and Justin's relationship within the framework of the bigger story. And that relationship ultimately becomes the soul of the movie. It's satisfying and expertly told, but it did take me a while to become fully invested in the plot. This isn't an action-heavy movie by any means, so don't watch with expectations of primarily that kind of entertainment.

    Special mention has to be made of the outstanding performances given by Fiennes and Weisz, as well as the beautiful African cinematography. The two actors really give a sense of humanity to their characters, and slowly reveal their complexity in a way that can only be described as impressive. And the movie itself is filmed in a realistic way that at times completely makes you forget that you're watching a film.

    The Constant Gardner is a thought-provoking political/conspiracy-thriller that hits the right notes and becomes more and more involving as it goes along. Even if this kind of movie generally doesn't appeal to you, the performances of Weisz and Fiennes make it required viewing.
  • MissMorganLeee
    July 3, 2010
    MissMorganLeee
    Not really what I was expecting. Not as much action but all the same I loove Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. They are both spectacualr. RALPH NEEDS AN OSCAR!
  • BEACHBUNNI
    June 26, 2010
    BEACHBUNNI
    Based on the novel by John Le Carré, it starts with a murder, as any good mystery does. British diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), assigned to Nairobi, sees his world crumble when his wife, activist Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz), is found brutally mutilated in a remote area of... read more Northern Kenya
    this is a film that will appeal to those who enjoy mystery/suspense thrillers with some romance thrown in.it has some good actors, and excellent cinematography.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
November 27, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

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

Ken Tucker
December 9, 2005
Ken Tucker, New York Magazine

... Ralph Fiennes gives one of the year's subtlest, yet most exciting, screen performances ... Full Review

Peter Rainer
September 1, 2005
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Rises to a pitch of terror and outrage that leaves one shaken. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
August 31, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Meirelles clearly trusts his actors, particularly Fiennes and Weisz: The plot of The Constant Gardener is fairly intricate, but in the end, the story is told mostly in their faces. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
August 31, 2005
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The Constant Gardener is beautifully structured, an artful mix of forward motion and flashbacks. Full Review

Bruce Newman
August 31, 2005
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News

The director's fluttering hand keeps the ground constantly shifting beneath our feet, which is just what this beautifully wrenching adaptation for the screen requires.

Steven Rea
August 31, 2005
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

The filmmaker's assurance and vision in reimagining the novel are downright inspiring.

Jeff Strickler
August 31, 2005
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Viewers who like real-world issues interwoven with their fiction -- much in the style of author John Le Carré, whose novel is the basis for this movie -- should find plenty to chew on. Full Review

Terry Lawson
August 31, 2005
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

A character-driven drama of actual import that delivers a message and dramatic punch, but with a visual edginess and narrative ingenuity that is in the service of the story, as opposed to the filmmake...

Chris Vognar
August 31, 2005
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

The Constant Gardener manages to fight through its own pretensions to deliver a tale you care about, featuring characters you care for. Full Review

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Facts

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  • The exact shot of Justin (Ralph Fiennes) waving good bye at Tessa (Rachel Weisz) and Arnold in the airport can be seen in "The English Patient" as well.
  • Mike Newell was all set to direct "The Constant Gardener", but he declined after being offered "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", which also features Ralph Fiennes.
  • Eva Green was supposed to play Tessa Quayle, but she had to drop out of the film due to other commitments. Other actresses who were linked to the film were: Kate Winslet, Sienna Miller, Naomi Watts, and Nicole Kidman.
  • This movie was nominated the Oscar to the Best Original Soundtrack, which was composed by Alberto Iglesias. Alberto is considered the master of soundtracks in Spain, and has a lot of Goyas (the Spanish equivalent to Oscars) from his work in music. He... read more was also nominated by the sountrack of The Kite Runner.
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The Constant Gardener Trivia

  • This movie stars Ralph Fiennes and was directed by the same man who gave us the brazilian masterpiece City of God.  Answer »
  • complete the title of the movie with Ralph Fiennes "The ________ Gardener"  Answer »
  • Fernando Meirelles the director of CITY OF GOD, Which of these movies did he also direct?  Answer »
  • who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the Constant Gardener?  Answer »
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