The Constant Gardener A visually breathtaking and unexpected love story, wrapped inside a political scandal, the Constant Gardener tells a deceitful yet gentle tale of love, power and politics, set in a scene out of National Geographic. Much as he did in “The English Patient” Ralph Fiennes is Justin Quayle, a man whose passion increases scene for scene, falls for a student, Tessa (Rachel Weisz) in a very smart role choice. Tessa poses the issue of “We’re killing thousands of people for barrels of oil all for a photo opportunity at the White House,” but no sooner she challenges Justin, she sleeps with him and they wed soon after. While it’s never quite clear why he’s in Africa, despite being a British diplomat, the story focuses on his feisty wife who discovers that pharmaceutical companies are using AIDs ridden Africans as test mice. She employs Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Kounde) her best friend and ally, in her plan to fight the corporate masters, only to find the town thinking that they are lovers. When Tessa and Arthur are found murdered, it is up to the constant gardener, Justin, to dig up more than just dirt, on his wife’s secrets. The supportive cast are pivotal in the plot line, with a high ranking superior (Danny Huston), a doctor working for the drug companies (Pete Postlewaite) and the man behind the evil scams, Sir Bernard Pellegrin (Bill Nighy). Three Crowns
