The Constant Gardener

REVIEW
A poignant story of romantic loss and a riveting detective thriller set against the backdrop of third-world pharmaceutical testing, The Constant Gardener assaults the political senses as it uncovers the sad truths within an industry fueled by profit and competition. Based on John le Carré's best-seller, the story centers on a quest by British diplomat Justin Quayle (Fiennes), who is recovering from the sudden death of his wife Tessa (Weisz). An activist who had stumbled upon information into a new drug's harmful test results, Tessa -- seen in flashback -- was killed under mysterious circumstances. This sends Justin on a journey to uncover the truth behind his wife's death and her work, ironically allowing him a greater insight into her character than he had when she was alive. Director Meirelles, whose City of God majestically balanced heartfelt social observations with stinging critiques of economic conditions in present-day Rio de Janeiro, uses the same blistering and profound lens to gauge the socio-political climate in Kenya where the poor are unwilling guinea pigs in a costly conglomerate game of chance. Introspective and forlorn, Fiennes is excellent as the grieving widower who is warned of danger at nearly every turn; as Tessa, Weisz has never been this effective before, giving a fiery portrayal of a woman ruled by passion and conscience.