Dirty Pretty Things (2002)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writer:

Steven Knight (written by)

Release Date:

13 December 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Some things are too dangerous to keep secret.

Plot:

An illegal Nigerian immigrant discovers the unpalatable side of London life.

Plot Keywords:

Nigerian | Hotel | Doctor | Toilet | Heart

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Okwe
Kriss Dosanjh	...	Asian Businessman
Israel Aduramo	...	Mini Cab Driver
Yemi Ajibade	...	Mini Cab Driver (as Ade-Yemi Ajibade)
Nizwar Karanj	...	Mini Cab Driver
Deobia Oparei	...	Mini Cab Driver
Jeffery Kissoon	...	Cab Controller
Zlatko Buric	...	Ivan
Audrey Tautou	...	Senay Gelik
Sophie Okonedo	...	Juliette
Sergi López	...	Sneaky / Juan
Benedict Wong	...	Guo Yi
Kenan Hudaverdi	...	Cafe Owner
Damon Younger	...	Punter
Paul Bhattacharjee	...	Mohammed

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Somali

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:12 | Brazil:18 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Damien O'Donnell was originally attached to direct, but he decided to pass after problems with Harvey Weinstein. He directed Heartlands (2002) instead.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Okwe and Senay are drinking wine, Senay lifts a full glass. In the next shot, the glass is 3/4 full.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Okwe: Do you want a car? Ten pounds, Theatreland. Car? London? You want a taxi? Buckingham Palace.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Spot: Zlatko Buric (#3.6)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Room 510

You wouldn't believe how some people will degrade themselves to survive...

... I have to be honest and say that before I sat down to watch, I hadn't given much thought to the subject, myself. Maybe it's the suburban boy in me. Often you don't notice the true depths of depravity to be found in most cities unless you actively go looking for it.

This happens to be about the underbelly of London; and what practises are reputed to - and may or may not - go on there. In this particular treatment, such activities are allowed to continue because the people caught up in them aren't citizens. 'Developed' society prefers to deny them a workable route of admittance for many of their circumstances;, so the best attitude seems to be to ignore how they have to live until such time as they go away. Of course, the logical outcome of such a way of thinking is a marked increase in illegal/immoral activity; but somehow the people who wish to turn a blind eye can't understand that eventually the overall effects will begin to seep onto THEIR doorstep... You do indeed tend to reap what you sow.

For those lucky enough to be ignorant of the sorts of happenings that take place on the streets, one can only say that this film is an eye-opener. Too often we walk around blind to the foreign nationals who do a lot of our menial jobs for us. It's not expected that we take notice of our cab drivers, chamber-maids, and yes; even our sex-slaves. Pity we don't pay more attention, because that often isn't ALL they do; and the burden of truth should heap shame on civilisation as a whole. These issues are handled brilliantly in "Dirty Pretty Things" by all of the creative team involved. See it to humble yourselves with this sobering reminder: The face you slap on your way up may belong to the same owner of the feet you're kissing at your lowest ebb.