The Constant Gardener (2005)
Coming Out at 31 August 2005 in theaters.
Drama, Mystery, Romance
The Constant Gardener is drama thriller film directed by Fernando Meirelles. The screenplay by Jeffrey Caine is based on John le Carré’s novel of the same name (2001). The story follows Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), a British diplomat in Kenya, as he tries to solve the murder of his wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz), an Amnesty activist, alternating with many flashbacks telling the story of their love.
The film was filmed on location in Loiyangalani and the slums of Kibera, a section of Nairobi, Kenya. Circumstances in the area affected the cast and crew to the extent that they set up the Constant Gardener Trust in order to provide basic education for these villages. The plot was vaguely based on a real-life case in Kano, Nigeria. The DVD versions were released in the United States on 1 January 2006 and in the United Kingdom on 13 March 2006. Justin’s gentle but diligent attention to his plants is a recurring background theme, from which image the film’s title is derived. Hubert Koundé, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite and Donald Sumpter co-star. The film was a critical and box office success and earned four Oscar nominations, winning Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Weisz.
Justin Quayle, a low-level British diplomat and horticultural hobbyist posted in Kenya, learns that his wife Tessa was found dead in the veld. Tessa has been murdered at a crossroads along with her Kenyan driver. Her colleague, Dr. Arnold Bluhm, initially suspected of her murder, is then found to have been murdered on the same day as Tessa. Various rumours abound that the two were having an affair; it is later revealed that Bluhm was gay.
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Writers: Jeffrey Caine, John le Carré (novel)
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Hubert Koundé, Bill Nighy, Donald Sumpter
Cast:
| Ralph Fiennes | … | Justin Quayle |
| Rachel Weisz | … | Tessa Quayle |
| Hubert Koundé | … | Dr. Arnold Bluhm |
| Danny Huston | … | Sandy Woodrow |
| Daniele Harford | … | Miriam |
| Packson Ngugi | … | Officer in Morgue |
| Damaris Itenyo Agweyu | … | Jomo’s Wife |
| Bernard Otieno Oduor | … | Jomo |
| Bill Nighy | … | Sir Bernard Pellegrin |
| Keith Pearson | … | Porter Coleridge |
| John Sibi-Okumu | … | Dr. Joshua Ngaba |
| Donald Sumpter | … | Tim Donohue |
| Archie Panjabi | … | Ghita Pearson |
| Nick Reding | … | Crick |
| Gerard McSorley | … | Sir Kenneth Curtiss |
| Juliet Aubrey | … | Gloria Woodrow |
| Jacqueline Maribe | … | Wanza Kiluhu |
| Donald Apiyo | … | Kioko |
| Pete Postlethwaite | … | Lorbeer |
| Samuel Otage | … | Mustafa |
| Anneke Kim Sarnau | … | Birgit |
| Mumbi Kaigwa | … | Grace Makanga |
| John Moller | … | Athletic Unshaven Man |
| Andre Leenheer | … | Shaven Headed Man |
| Lydia M. Manyasi | … | Kenyan Newsreader |
| Steenie Njoroge | … | 1st Journalist |
| Stuart Wheeler | … | 2nd Journalist |
| Chris Payne | … | Mike Mildren |
| Nyajima Jial | … | Esmerelda |
| Brigid M. Kakenyi | … | Hospital Administrator |
| Katherine Damaris | … | Nurse |
| Christopher Okinda | … | Doctor |
| Ainea Ojiambo | … | Police Driver |
| Peter King Nzioki | … | Policeman 1 |
| Ng’ang’a Kirumburu | … | Policeman 2 |
| Ben Parker | … | Det. Inspector Deasey |
| John Keogh | … | Immigration Official |
| Jeffrey Caine | … | Club Servant |
| Richard McCabe | … | Arthur Hammond |
| Rupert Simonian | … | Guido Hammond |
| Teresa Harder | … | Birgit’s Secretary |
| Thomas Chemnitz | … | Uniformed Policeman |
| Joe Christopher Rhode | … | Karl |
| Edgar Nicholas Rhode | … | Karl |
| Eva Plackner | … | Crossing Guard |
| Claire Simpson | … | Maude Donohue |
| Sidede Onyulo | … | Jonah Andika |
| Chris Lightburn-Jones | … | Aid Worker |
| Ann Achan | … | Aduk |
| Dang Wuor Diew | … | Sudanese Man |
| Ben Gardiner | … | Harry Woodrow |
| The Kizingo Arts Troupe | … | Performer: ‘Huruma’ – Aids Play |
| Lucy Achieng | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Elizabeth Karanja | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Elzabeth Karanja | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Sele Mzamil | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Suleiman Bakari | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Juma Musa | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Jane Obada | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Florence Chamba | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Triza Musimbi | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Benson Obiva | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Ibrahim Chitaya | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Eric Mutua | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Leonard Ongaya | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Abdallah Juma | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Anne Mwikali | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| James Osoo | … | Member of The Kizingo Arts Troupe |
| Denis Schnegg | … | Doctor |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia