rekindled sadness...

it is hard not to find it personal when the actor of the protagonist in "The Constant Gardener" has a name that is pronounced the same way as that of a dear friend who was killed in a most unneccesary way almost a year ago and his (Ralph Fiennes) and his co-protagonist's (Rachel Weisz) roles in the film share some similarities with the kind of work R was involved in...

i never really understood how and what life is like working for aid agencies in Africa (and other parts of the world) despite hearing first-hand the kind of dangers, frustrations and incomprehensible bureaucracies that exist and are highlighted in the film... i could never really fully appreciate R's experiences... it seemed and still does, utterly remote and horrifying... i could, but then again i guess i couldn't, understand the passion that drives these aid-workers... and in comparison, my everyday struggles seem insignificant...

it's hard to describe it all succinctly and adequately... but the film gives a vivid dichotomy of the beauty of the african land and the misery of the people; their helpless yet changeable situations; the pharmaceutical powers that rule their lives and are yet dependent on these lives they 'sacrifice' and also the ruthlessness that is present in both the locals and the foreigners... do try to catch the film when it comes to a theatre/cinema near you... the issues raised are real and concern us all.