MovieChat Forums > The Constant Gardener (2005) Discussion > I'm sorry, did I misunderstand?

I'm sorry, did I misunderstand?

posted 14 years ago by revengine
14 replies | jump to latest

Am I supposed to feel sorry for Tessa Quayle and what happened to her? Because honestly I don't, at all. All I saw was an arrogant, selfish, self-serving, manipulative, egomaniacal misandronist who used every single person in her life (especially her husband) as a means to an end, nothing more. It probably came from her up-bringing - she was undoubtedly a spoiled little brat whose daddy couldn't say no. So, no, I don't feel sorry for her in the slightest, in fact I feel she got just what she deserved.

"If you're waiting for a woman to make up her mind, you may have a long wait." Preacher

[–] gb901 14 years ago

Indeed she cane across as an over privileged little rich girl who thought she could change the world for all those less fortunate than herself - almost as though she felt guilty for her great fortune and upbringing? She was obviously well off and one assumes had inherited wealth for how on earth would she have been able to afford a Chelsea townhouse?

[–] sandifay62 14 years ago

I don't think the point was about sympathy for Tess as much it was sympathy for Justin's love for her. His love for her is what led to his tragedy. If he were less of a romantic and more of a prick. He'd have been able to grieve in a more stable way. Like going back home and letting the past go.

Tess was his obsession, but I don't think she was supposed to come across as a symathetic character. We were made to see her as she was a crusader that sought the truth no matter how in over her head she was and no matter who she hurt. I think her outburst in the class showed how crazy she was. Justin couldn't see that. He just wanted to get some and ended up falling in love with the wrong woman.

[–] Darthnixa 14 years ago

Well said Sandifay62!

[–] knoblester 14 years ago

I think you all are all crazy. True, she was passionate to a fault and used extreme methods to uncover the truth but if you came away that she was doing it for self-serving purposes then I don't know what to say. I see nothing wrong with someone who comes from a privileged background trying to help the world and thinking that she can do just that; in fact, I think the world needs more people like her and less of people like you who think that places like those portrayed should just be left alone and people wishing to help are somehow wrong and somehow have ulterior motives.

[–] jd-276 13 years ago

Maybe she was a bit inappropriate in her first scene but how else can you voice an opinion like that to a community that just plain doesn't care?

Who is at fault: the one shouting in frustration or the others who can't get over their own fear of someone doing something so uncool? Never mind about the issue of governments with blood on their hands and First World Problems...

[–] xXAssassinXx 14 years ago

Whatever your convoluted argument is, I don't get how you can say that she deserved to DIE. She was trying to help people

Nothing you have to say is anywhere near as useful or important as you think it is.

[–] TobyCharlesDavies 13 years ago

"in fact I feel she got just what she deserved"

A woman sends a report to British diplomatic core, highlighting human rights abuses in Africa, and as a result she is murdered. And you think she got what she deserved?

You sir are a complete idiot.

[–] noveltylibrary 13 years ago

agreed, you were fine until that stupid statement.

[–] dwarol 13 years ago

A spoiled brat? The movie showed her as deeply insecure. Consider how embarrassed she felt after her outburst at Justin's lecture. At another point she says that only her work matters, implying she herself did not. Did she use Justin and take advantage of his position? Maybe. But the movie makes it quite clear that when she said she wanted to keep him in the dark to protect him, she was indeed doing it out of love as she said.

I'd agree that Tessa was a deeply flawed woman. But a spoiled brat? If she was a spoiled brat she probably would have never left Europe, occupying her days shopping and spending her Daddy's money. If you want to get into psychological analysis, if anything she probably felt rejected and unloved by her father, which is why she responded so strongly to the middle-aged Justin's attention and understanding.

If anything, the movie is making the statement that deeply flawed people are often driven to great accomplishments. You don't have to nominate Tessa for sainthood anymore than you should Steve Jobs.

[–] jd-276 13 years ago

Don't you think though that she already knew that she would probably be killed anyway?

[–] heyuactor 12 years ago

I think she probably knew it and didn't really care, being so intent on doing the right thing as she saw it.
It reminds me of way back in 1968 when Robert Kennedy ran for President even though he knew his brother had been killed. Surely he understood the risk he was taking, and went ahead anyway. Sort of foolish, in retrospect, but he did it anyway.

"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] golden_muse 12 years ago

I'm sorry, did I misunderstand? This woman weathered terrible conditions and gave her life for the sake of families and children of both genders. Somehow I get the feeling that you'd call any woman who dares step out of the kitchen for 2 minutes a misandronist.

[–] ivana2804 12 years ago

Well said, golden_muse.

To the OP: I'm sorry, you're an idiot. And FYI "misandronist" is not a word. I'm guessing "misandrist" is the word you're looking for. But that still doesn't make sense, since it means "hating men" (that's men in general), and Tessa only hated Sandy and the bastards who exploited and killed people out of greed.

Pain is to pleasure as disco is to punk.You need to live through one to fully appreciate the other.

[–] sarizonana 12 years ago

I liked Tessa.

All she did was with good intentions, actually at the beginning I thought that Justin was the shallow of them.
When Tessa tells him to stop and give a ride to the people saw he said no because he felt like his wife was first.
She was truly committed to the cause and Justin was doing this trip just like as a political duty.

I'm not saying Justin was a bad person but he didn't support her as he should have, that's why when she died he started to investigate because he felt guilty for not helping her as he should.