THE CONSTANT GARDENER
STRUCTURE OF THE FILM

THE MANIPULATION OF CHRONOLOGICAL TIME

The opening scene

The very first minutes of the movie really engage the audience by creating a sense of mystery – it begins the viewer and Justin’s quest to make meaning in the film.

The audience is engaged during the opening credits with a voice over of a conversation between Justin and Tessa.

Lighting and editing are a key techniques in the opening scene. Justin and Tessa both contrast against the white light, however Arnold and Tessa walk off ‘into the light.’

White light is significant in the film because whenever we see Tessa there is a background of white light, this shows the good in her and the kind of person she is eg. How she wants justice for the Kenyan people. It could also suggest her walking towards her death – the white light of ‘heaven’.

The scene starts with black and we have this ambiguous scene of curiosity of the unknown as the light gets brighter, this creates a kind of ‘happy feeling.’

The scene then fades back into black and we see the jeep rolling over, from the happy feeling we have been shifted into a disturbed and uneasy mood, this is intensified by the perspective shots of someone who is inside the jeep.

Montage is also used to present the murder scene where Tessa’s body is found (although the identity of the body will only become clear later). We are showed a montage of images of soldiers removing a dead body from the jeep, we know that someone has died and what is happening. With the montage we are unclear about the situation because we are never shown the victims or culprits of the accident.

SYMBOLISM: When we are showed the scene of the white birds flying over the black waters (a repeated motif in the film), this calms the uneasy and disturbed feeling in the audience. In some cultures, birds flying away symbolise a departing soul.

Closing scene

There is a certain symmetry between the opening and closing scene. Many of the same techniques and images are used to create a sense of completion to the story.

A voice over of Bernard Pellegrin speaking at Justin’s funeral introduces the closing scene. We see a Long shot of Justin is walking on the barren, crater like landscape of Lake Turkana. He looks isolated and vulnerable, but it also suggests the end of his journey. Through Pellingrin’s speech we are lead into thinking that Justin has committed suicide. Once again the audience is in a state of confusion as what we see contradicts what we are hearing: Justin is walking, very much alive. This suggests the conspiracy and cover up which has operated between the High Commission and drug companies right throughout the film.

After Pellegrin finishes his speech, Ham gets up to speak and we start to see inter-cutting between the scenes of Ham talking, Justin, the assassins and the Kenyan children smiling and laughing. The effect of intercutting these scenes is to provoke emotion in the viewer. The children are symbols of innocence and help to remind us of the exploitation of Africans at the hands of powerful companies and corrupt governments. The mood created is very emotional; sympathetic, heart-rending and yet gives the audience a relief that everything is coming out.

However the use of dialogue, through Hams speech reading the letter from Pellegrin to Sandy the story is unfolded and the plot is concluded in a satisfying way. Ham explains that the murder of Justin, Tessa and Arnold is due to the collusion of the British Govt and the drug companies, as well as revealing the ‘murder’ of the Kenyan people.. Though both Justin and Tessa have died as martyrs to the cause of revealing the corruption, the truth has been revealed after their deaths.

How is time manipulated in the film?

-There is frequent switching between past and present. However this is done in a seamless way – which helps the viewer to absorb a lot of information about Tessa’s actions as Justin gradually discovers what she knew. Eg, begins with the plane and Tessa leaving, and later we see this scene again, when the plot unfolds.

-Lighting is also used for the switching of time showing contrast. Present is usually filmed in a gloomy dark setting compared the past with bright light. It also sets the mood that Justin is in. Eg. When Justin goes into the morgue to see Tessa’s body, the lighting is dark/green and sad compared to when he recalls memories with Tessa where a lot of pure white light is used.

-There is a lot of intercutting with Justin recalling memories with himself and Tessa together when he goes back to visit those significant places such as Tessa’s house and Loki.

-Key scenes from the beginning relates to key scenes near the end of the story. Eg. Both ending and starting scene relates to death, same setting at Lake Turkana.

-One of the most evident techniques is foreshadowing in the movie and then showing the concerned scene as a flashback. Music is also used to help identify changes in setting and mood. African drumming and music can be heard throughout the movie even in scenes when they are out of Africa. Another example is when Ghita is walking amongst the traffic and you can hear Justin’s voice over talking to her even before you can see them.

-Particular scenes, such as important conversations and intimate scenes are slow paced to show the passing of time. Other scenes where Justin is on the run and searching for the truth is fast paced with quick cutting, close ups to make the audience feel confused (at times), and engaged in all the action. Examples:

  • When Justin returns to their place in London after Tessa’s death, this is a contrasting scene (when they make love in the same house where it is all bright) in terms of lighting as Meirelles has used dull grey lighting accompanied by rain. Justin finally lets his emotions out and cries as he misses and regrets losing faith in Tessa. The subtle and sympathetic background music creates a mood causing the viewers to feel the same as Justin does. Then we’re shown a flash back where Justin recalls his conversation with Tessa, in the extremely bright background, a contrast between them happy and now where Justin is all sad and alone. Here the pace (time) of the film is slowed down.
  • Use of intercutting and quick snapshots to convey an idea as well as to speed up time. Eg, when the police officer arrives at the testing station before Justin and Wanza, we see a lot of snapshots of people calling others in regards to Justin’s presence.
  • The Kenyan setting is also revealed quite quickly to the audience. Through the hand-held documentary style shot of the Kenyan children (that make the chime for Tessa) - we see the busy crowd. The shot of the speeding train as well is a well-used motif of time passing quickly which has been used in the film. Also, the tracking shot of the guy on the bicycle shows the rural Kenyan environment quite quickly.