The Honorary Consul (1983)

Director:

John Mackenzie

Writers:

Graham Greene (novel)
Christopher Hampton (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The first time he saw her, she was a prostitute. The second time, she was his best friend's wife. The third time she was his. [USA theatrical] [as Beyond The Limit]

Plot:

Dr. Eduardo Plarr, despite the name is an Anglo working in a Latin American country. His work is a return home after several years...

Plot Keywords:

Diplomat | Affair | Male Nudity | Female Nudity | Prostitute

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Charley Fortnum, Consul
Richard Gere	...	Dr. Eduardo Plarr
Bob Hoskins	...	Colonel Perez
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Clara
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Leon (as Joaquim De Almeida)
A Martinez	...	Aquino
Stephanie Cotsirilos	...	Marta
Domingo Ambriz	...	Diego
Eric F. Valdez	...	Pablo (as Eric Valdez)
Nicolás Jasso	...	Miguel (as Nicolas Jasso)
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Belfrage: British Ambassador
Leonard Maguire	...	Dr. Humphries
Jorge Russek	...	Senor Escobar
Erika Carlsen	...	Senora Escobar
Josefina Echánove	...	Senora Sanchez (as Josefina Echanove)

Also Known As:

Beyond the Limit (USA)

Runtime:

104 min | West Germany:102 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | West Germany:12 | UK:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico

Company:

Parsons & Whittemore Lyddon Ltd.

Quotes:

Colonel Perez: Is this why you've been lying to me?
Dr. Eduardo Plarr: An affair always involves a few lies.

Subtle approach to be appreciated

This is a mildly interesting picture for viewers who like a hint of subtlety to spice their viewing experience. The problem is that this film also contains quite a lot of uneven action and performances.

The action is based upon a book by Graham Greene, a morality tale in which Greene shows how a seemingly mild injustice leads to catastrophic consequences for an apparently innocent man. The movie details the relationship between Dr. Plarr and the British "Honorary Consul" and the consul's wife. The movie, true to the original author's intent, makes this relationship central to the plot development. Greene wants to show how this relationship reveals a tragic flaw in his protagonist. On this level the movie succeeds, but there are too many loose ends in the plot and some lackluster performances. In the final analysis, though it starts nobly, the movie does not accomplish what it set out to do: i.e., bring a faithful adap- tation of Graham Greene to the big screen. It does not do justice to the subtle, thoughtful perspective of Greene's novel.

Dr. Plarr, played by Richard Gere, certainly is the amoral character Greene intended him to be. But this role, as directed in this movie, appears to be a vehicle for Richard Gere. It is drawn in the mold of movies that Gere had worked on at that time. These include movies such as "American Gigolo" and "Breathless." To turn the character of Dr. Plarr into a showcase for Richard Gere represents a totally inappropriate intrusion of the director into the story's subject matter.

To make matters worse, Gere plays his role mechanically, without passion, almost as though he were reading his lines directly from the script or sleepwalking through them. He is emotionally uninvolved in his character.

The revolutionaries in the picture are similarly unengaging characters. One has a hard time seeing how anyone could support their cause. This is chiefly because the movie does not do a satisfactory job of explaining who or what the group is fighting against. As a result, it is not clear with any accuracy just what the group is fighting for. The movie resorts to cliches here. We are supposed to believe that a Latin American dictator has been committing atrocities, but what effective recourse the revolutionaries have against him is never fully explained. The action that follows becomes muddled and the the motivations of the characters confused.

The one character who is neither confused nor mechanical is the honorary consul, played by Michael Caine in an outstanding per- formance. Charley Fortnum first comes across as a boozing has-been, but in the end, he is the voice of reason and humanity in the face of an insane, inhuman mess. His is also the voice of mercy in the picture.

"Beyond the Limit" may not be as thoughtfully developed as it should be, but it is interesting to see the film's producers try to convey the important moral message of the original novel. I give it two stars.