The Constant Gardener

The Constant Gardener (2005)

Timing: 2:9 (129 min)

6.981/10
1699

7.07/10
14378

7.3/10
155000

All about film

Video 3

Photo 28

Actors and characters

Release date

2005-08-31

Country

China, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Kenya

Production

Studio Babelsberg, Focus Features, Scion Films, Potboiler Productions, UK Film Council, Epsilon Motion Pictures, Blue Sky Films, Blue Sky Africa

Genre

Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Budget

$25 000 000

Revenue

$82 468 097

Website

Director

Fernando Meirelles

Actors

Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite, Richard McCabe, Donald Sumpter, Juliet Aubrey, Hubert Koundé, Archie Panjabi
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Simon Channing Williams, Robert Jones, Donald Ranvaud, Jeff Abberley, Julia Blackman, Gail Egan, Jim Shamoon, Mario Zvan

Operator

César Charlone

Composer

Alberto Iglesias

Artist

Coralie Lew, Dale Manning

Audition

Leo Davis, Emily Mabonga

Editing

Claire Simpson
All team (201)

• Based on the bestselling novel by John le Carré.
• Initially, Mike Newell was confirmed as the film's director, but he turned down the project after being offered the director's position on "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005).
• The film's director, Fernando Meirelles, insisted on filming in Kenya (where the entire story takes place) instead of South Africa, which has a much more developed film industry.
• After filming, the "The Constant Gardener" Trust was established, with the goal of helping residents of the slums near Nairobi, where the film crew worked.
• The scene where Tessa (Rachel Weisz) walks through the slums surrounded by children asking "How are you?", and she replies "I'm fine, how are you?", was not in the script. The scene featured children living in Kibera, not actors.
• The novel's distribution was banned in Kenya because it depicted the corruption of Kenyan officials and civil servants.
• The filmmakers installed water tanks in Kibera, built a new bridge and a school classroom in the slums where the film was shot. They also built a secondary school in the desert of northern Kenya, where the film's final scenes were filmed.
• Danish actress Iben Hjejle was initially cast and contracted for the role of the German, Brigitte. However, when German investors learned that a Danish actress would be playing the German role, they made every effort to ensure that German actress Anneke Kim Sarnau was cast as Brigitte.
• The minor role of the Swiss man in the "Liberal" club was played by writer Jeffrey Caine.
• The character of Tessa Quayle was based on the life story of Yvette Pierpaoli – a well-known social activist involved in charity work. She died in 1999 along with two other social workers when their truck crashed in Albania. The book was dedicated to her memory.
• Producer Simon Channing-Williams acquired the rights to adapt the book long before its publication in 2001. To ensure complete accuracy, molecular biologist Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, who works in Nairobi, was invited as a film consultant.
• While preparing for the film, Fernando Meirelles thoroughly studied Brian Woods and Michael Simkin's BBC documentary "Dying for Drugs".
• Eva Green and Kate Winslet were considered for the role of Tessa Quayle.
• Dr. Marcus Lorbeer, played by Pete Postlethwaite, wears a baseball cap with a yellow equals sign (=) in a blue square. This is the logo of the non-profit organization "Human Rights Campaign," advocating for equal rights for people, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The organization is the largest in the United States dedicated to protecting the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people.
• Initially, Mike Newell was confirmed as the director of the film, but he declined the project after being offered the director's position on "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005).
• After filming, the "Dedicated Gardener" trust was established, the purpose of which was to help residents of the slums near Nairobi, where the film crew had worked.
• The scene where Tessa (Rachel Weisz) walks through the slums surrounded by many children who ask "How are you?" and she replies "I'm fine, and how are you?" was not in the script. The scene featured children living in Kibera, not actors.
• The bit part of the doorman at the "Liberal" club was played by writer Jeffrey Caine.
• While preparing for the film, Fernando Meirelles thoroughly studied the BBC documentary "Dying from Drugs" by Brian Woods and Michael Simkin.
• Dr. Marcus Lorbeer, played by Pete Postlethwaite, wears a baseball cap with a yellow equals sign (=) in a blue square. This is the logo of the non-profit organization "Human Rights Society", advocating for equal rights for people, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The organization is the largest in the United States dedicated to protecting the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people.