The Critics Speak

Dirty Pretty Things

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Solid & Thoughtful
Released: July 18, 2003
Director: Stephen Frears
MPAA RATING: R, sexual content, disturbing images and language

Wow, was this a powerful movie. I totally didn't expect it to be this powerful, so it kind of set me back a bit. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Okwe, a Nigerian guy who lives in England trying to have a new life. He is restless, and sleepless, and works day & night (hotel front desk, taxi driver). While cleaning a restroom at the hotel, he discovers a human heart stuck in a toilet. He wants to go to the police, but cannot because he is an illegal alien and has a questionable past. This puts him in a sticky situation as we find out what is really going on at the hotel. He is very protective of his Turkish friend Senay (Audrey Tautou), who is living in England, but is not allowed to get a job. Because she needs to make a living she works, but is constantly being sought out by the govenment to catch her. Together, the two struggle for survival, but are constantly pulled in by the seedy underground of people who exploit illegals for personal benefit.

The plot unfolds steadily (and creepily) as it raises questions, gives clues, and seeks poignant answers. Will Okwe and Senay be able to rise above their pasts and the difficult living situation in England? Will they be able to maintain their sense of pride and morality? Or will they get sucked in and become lost, forgotten people? As Okwe says to a doctor in the film, "...we are the people you do not see. We are the ones who drive your cabs. We clean your rooms. And suck your cocks." In other words, they do everything that no one else in the country wants to do because they are so easy to exploit. Because they have nothing (including rights), they are left with detestable jobs as their only option for survival.

Stephen Frears handles his direction with a smooth, calculated approach. He keeps the movie going steadily, but is patient and keeps the audience guessing throughout. Ejiofor and Tautou are thoughtful and act from the gut. I also enjoyed performances by Sophie Okonedo as Juliette, Benedict Wong as Guo Yi, and Sergi López as the creepy Juan.