Dirty Pretty Things
Directed by Stephen Frears.
Stephen Frears, most commonly known from his previous efforts such as Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity and The Grifters, directs Dirty Pretty Things, a disturbing yet fascinating new thriller. The film begins when Nigerian refugee, Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor) makes a startling discovery in one of the rooms in the Baltic Hotel where he works nights. He finds a human heart lodged in the toilet, which sparks his curiosity as he delves into the seedy and dark world encountering a sinister crime. He discovers an operation in which desperate individuals are selling their organs on the black market, lead by the delectably wicked Russian manager aptly named Sneaky (Sergi Lopez). Senay, played by the adorable and talented Audrey Tautou, like Okwe is an illegal immigrant, and must work as a chamber-maid in the hotel to earn enough money to move to her dream city of New York. Steven Knight, the screenwriter of the film, manages to convey a very significant issue throughout the film, and this message concerns the unjust treatment of illegal immigrants. Senay and Okwe, whom are in constant fear of deportation, must go to great lengths to overcome moral dilemmas to survive.
Audrey Tautou is wonderful in her first English speaking role, but is not the main star of the film despite the misleading movie poster with her as a main feature. Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is the true highlight of this film and does a fantastic job of depicting a passionate illegal immigrant attempting to survive in the harsh world, where they go virtually unnoticed.
Overall Dirty Pretty Things is a truly excellent film, with likeable main characters that the audience establishes a bond with by the end of the movie. The acting is as brilliant as the screenplay and the audience is left satisfied with the deeply moving closure of the film.
**** (out of five)
Amanda
