MovieChat Forums > The Constant Gardener (2005) Discussion > Questions about the title of the film

Questions about the title of the film


I saw the film last night and was just hoping that someone could explain why the film is called The Constant Gardner and how the title relates to the film.

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Well while all the stuff was going on that led to Tessa's death was playing out, Justin just gardened. It was all before his eyes, but he didn't see any of it until she died, he was too busy gardening. Even when he got the news that she maybe dead he was gardening in his office. Maybe if he wasn't constantly gardening he could of talked with his wife, maybe even helped, maybe even saved her.

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I don't agree with TheCinemator's interpretation. The word, "constant", has more meanings, the most typical being "incessant", as in he gardened non-stop, another being "loyal" or "faithful", as in someone who is reliable in his personal relationships or calling. I don't agree that Quayle was blinded because he was too pre-occupied with gardening; he knew very well what was going on. He just realizes too late that being a team player (in British diplomacy), letting things "go through proper channels", etc. was a mistaken approach. He had been constant in gardening and diplomacy, but after Tessa's death, he changes and becomes constant in her struggle.

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Excellent reply, mark!

Justin's passion was gardening. He knew how to tend plants and make them bloom. Thus, he is the "gardener" of the title.

And the word "constant" as mark pointed out, also means attentive or faithful. After Tessa was killed, Justin was "constant" in his attempts to find out the truth about how and why she died.

Far from being the milquetoast mid-level diplomat he seemed, Justin had inner steel. He had a "constant" character.

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