Fernando Meirelles, director of the acclaimed City of God (Cidade de Deus) has delivered a powerful and touching thriller sourced from veteran le Carré, an author arguably past his peak.
The cinematography is stunning, with a grainy, handheld documentary style that adds wonderfully to the realism and contemporary nature of the film. There’s something to be said for this ever-increasing technique, which seems to counter the work of such artistic directors as Cristophe Gans or Sally Potter. It’s not actually realism as such, however, but an exaggeration – we get a washed out, overexposed Kenya, then a dull, monochromatic England.
The plot is a fairly standard thriller, although there are moments that don’t conform to typical examples of the genre. As with many of le Carré’s adaptations, the plot seems fairly realistic, and I had no problems suspending disbelief. Coupled with Meirelles’ genuine portrayal of Kenya (not that I’ve ever been there), The Constant Gardener makes for a very convincing feature.