The Constant Gardener: Kenya, Africa, Ourselves

This week I will see the new film version of The Constant Gardener. I'm fascinated by both the film's website and its soundtrack. "Big pharmaceuticals ... are right up there with the arms dealers," a voice declares on the website. "FMF" (who is not English, British, Kenyan or American) loaned me her copy of John Le Carre's The Constant Gardener (TCG) about three years ago when C and I were still living in Nairobi. Back then the book was banned in Kenya. I'm still not sure it's been officially unbanned. I read it in Kenya just before Daniel arap Moi completed his twenty four (24) year run as Kenya's president. He's mentioned several times in Constant Gardener and one can say it's not as a hero. The book was a fascinating read; I couldn't put it down, which I can't say for quite a bit of fiction. I hear they shot on location in Nairobi, including Kibera - Africa's largest slum[, and elsewhere in Kenya - including Lake Turkana?]. I keep thinking that whenever I recommend this book and film to others I must suggest they do 3 things: 1. Read Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost;(subtitle, "A story of greed, terror and heroism in colonial Africa") 2. Read Edward Hooper's online letter about his suspicions on the origins of HIV and AIDS, and take a look at his entire website investigating the origins of AIDS; and 3. See the related, Emmy-nominated documentary film, The Origins of AIDS, which the Sundance Channel aired in the USA in February 2005. Truth really is stranger than fiction, and in this case a book and film of fiction help lead us to examine certain truths. Despite faults of yet another heavily eurocentric plot set in Africa, in some other ways The Constant Gardener is on the right track. God bless Africa.

Comments

[Dave]

I saw the movie. It was just ok. I heard the book was good but could not wait till after I read it. I wrote a quick review on my blog!

www.daveanddanielle.blogs.com

If you read the book you dont have to worry about me spoiling it for you.

[anthony]

Marian - I too am looking forward to the film. Although, when I read the novel (in 2001, I think), I was a little disappointed. I was a devoted fan of Carre’s spy novels and found his take on this well-trodden theme unpersuasive. (Pharmaceutical companies experimenting on poor black people? Tuskegee...)

Fiennes is a fine actor though (English Patient) and I think he will do justice to Carre's Quayle.

How daring of you to take illegal contraband into a foreign country. Have you been following the drama involving Australians who are being prosecuted for doing the same in Indonesia….