BBBB
(out of 5)
Ralph Fiennes is excellent as a placid British diplomat living in Kenya and grieving over the accidental death of his beautiful wife (Rachel Weisz). Knowing that her political motivations towards helping people in oppressed countries never made her popular among the money set, Fiennes starts to investigate clues he finds among his wife’s personal effects and discovers the trail of a conspiracy and the possibility that her death wasn’t an accident after all. Director Fernando Meirelles has a wealth of story information to impart to his audience here, and does a fantastic job of keeping the story moving at a steady clip and keeping the viewer up to date the whole time. The cinematography by Oscar nominee Cesar Charlone is superb, one of the most beautiful movies of the year, while the natural performances and riveting pace add to an experience that is a cut above your typical Hollywood thriller. By the time the story gets into full swing and the characters are deep in the shit of international greed and bureaucratic horror, you’ll be completely mesmerized.
Focus Features, UK Film Council, Potboiler Productions, Scion Films, Blue Sky Films, Epsilon Motion Pictures, Studio Babelsberg
Directed by Fernando Meirelles
Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine, based on the novel by John Le Carre
Cinematography by Cesar Charlone
Produced by Simon Channing Williams
Music by Alberto Iglesias
Production Design by Mark Tildesley
Costume Design by Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Film Editing by Claire Simpson
Film Festivals: Venice 2005
Cast Tags: Abdallah Juma, Ainea Ojiambo, Andre Leenheer, Ann Achan, Anne Mwikali, Anneke Kim Sarnau, Archie Panjabi, Ben Gardiner, Ben Parker, Benson Obiva, Bernard Otieno Oduor, Bill Nighy, Brigid M. Kakenyi, Chris Lightburn-Jones, Chris Payne,Christopher Okinda, Claire Simpson, Damaris Itenyo Agweyu, Dang Wuor Diew, Daniele Harford, Danny Huston, Donald Apiyo, Donald Sumpter,Edgar Nicholas Rhode, Elizabeth Karanja, Elzabeth Karanja, Eric Mutua, Eva Plackner, Florence Chamba, Gerard McSorley,Hubert Koundé, Ibrahim Chitaya, Jacqueline Maribe, James Osoo, Jane Obada, Joe Christopher Rhode, John Keogh, John Moller, John Sibi-Okumu, Juliet Aubrey, Juma Musa, Katherine Damaris, Keith Pearson, Leonard Ongaya, Lucy Achieng, Lydia M. Manyasi,Mumbi Kaigwa, Ng’ang’a Kirumburu, Nick Reding, Nyajima Jial, Packson Ngugi, Pete Postlethwaite, Peter King Nzioki, Rachel Weisz, Ralph Fiennes,Richard McCabe, Rupert Simonian, Samuel Otage, Sele Mzamil, Sidede Onyulo, Steenie Njoroge, Stuart Wheeler, Suleiman Bakari, Teresa Harder,The Kizingo Arts Troupe, Thomas Chemnitz, Triza Musimbi
Academy Award
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Rachel Weisz as “Tessa Quayle”)
Nominations
Best Film Editing (Claire Simpson)
Best Music (Original Score) (Alberto Iglesias)
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Jeffrey Caine)
Golden Globe Award
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Rachel Weisz)
Nominations
Best Motion Picture-Drama
Best Director (Fernando Meirelles)
Screen Actors Guild Award
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Rachel Weisz)
Writers Guild Award Nomination
Best Adapted Screenplay
British Academy Award
Best Editing
Nominations
Best Film
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Ralph Fiennes)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Rachel Weisz)
Best Screenplay – Adapted
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film
David Lean Award for Direction (Fernando Meirelles)
Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
European Film Award Nomination
Screen International Award
Goya Award Nomination
Best European Film
Chicago Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz)
