The Constant Gardener- of evil pharms and love.

After Z and I got back from H-mart, it was still early (10PM on a Friday night is early when you are 22... for once), so we decided to scroll through Netflix. He recognized "The Constant Gardener" as a book by John le Carre, and since this was shorter (we were counting down to our bedtimes) than "Gangs of New York", we chose to watch this gem.

And I am so glad I did! The title is a bit misleading, as is the poster. Both focus on Justin Quayle's love for his wife Tessa, even after her brutal death which seems to have been committed by her lover. Justin, a British diplomat to Kenya, searches Tessa's belongings to discover that Tessa had been on the brink of exposing a pharmaceutical company which was using Kenyans to test a dangerous TB drug.

I was surprised to find that this movie(book) was based on a real-life scandal in 1996 when Pfizer reportedly tested the meningitis antibiotic Trovan on 100 Nigerian children during the meningitis epidemic.

The film is beautifully shot with handheld cameras, intimately angled shots over shoulders and varying height levels. The colors are monochromatic for most scenes except those in Kenya which were full of vibrant accessories and drapey fabrics. There are some heartbreaking parts that portray the political instability and wrenching poverty in Kenya, and the film keeps you intrigued and mystified as you unravel the mystery with Justin Quayle. I was somewhat satisfied with the ending, but the fact something like this occurred in real life was disturbing beyond the 2-hour cinematic adventure.

I think this may be my new favorite movie(watch the trailer here). I realize that textbook classes are not the only way to educate people about worldly issues; different forms of art can serve as effective messages to shout about problems in our world.