Dirty Pretty Things is a 2002 British drama film directed by Stephen Frears and written by Steven Knight, a drama about two immigrants in London staring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Okwe and Audrey Tautou as Senay Gelik. It was produced by BBC Films and Celador Films. It's Audrey Tautou's first English-speaking role. The first film from Celador, the company behind TV quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1998). Steven Knight, co-creator of the hit show, also wrote the script for Dirty Pretty Things.
An illegal Nigerian immigrant discovers the unpalatable side of London life.
***SPOILER ALERT***
A Harsh Look at Immigrant Life in London
KRASNAYA:
After having a discussion at the dinner table about how welcoming England is to emigrants, we ended up our evening watching this movie... about emigrants and their lives in England. So, Freddy, now you still think that they are truly welcome in there?
After having a discussion at the dinner table about how welcoming England is to emigrants, we ended up our evening watching this movie... about emigrants and their lives in England. So, Freddy, now you still think that they are truly welcome in there?
FREDDY:
Krasnaya, first of all, we were talking mostly about France... and yep, I still think England is one of the most open-minded and welcoming countries in the world. Maybe a little less now because of Brexit, but that's just based on some snippets I've seen on the news about some racist guy yelling at people on the bus. What do I know, really? My subjective experience is very small; never been there, had some friends who moved there and still haven't come back, even with all the rain and shitty weather. Maybe this Wikipedia article can give us more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_immigration_to_the_United_Kingdom. Anyway, this wasn't a documentary film that could change my opinions on the subject. Dark and sad stuff happens everywhere and now I have a better idea where to find kidneys. If I ever need one, I will search for illegal immigrants around hotels run by Spanish guys. Now let's talk about the movie.
Krasnaya, first of all, we were talking mostly about France... and yep, I still think England is one of the most open-minded and welcoming countries in the world. Maybe a little less now because of Brexit, but that's just based on some snippets I've seen on the news about some racist guy yelling at people on the bus. What do I know, really? My subjective experience is very small; never been there, had some friends who moved there and still haven't come back, even with all the rain and shitty weather. Maybe this Wikipedia article can give us more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_immigration_to_the_United_Kingdom. Anyway, this wasn't a documentary film that could change my opinions on the subject. Dark and sad stuff happens everywhere and now I have a better idea where to find kidneys. If I ever need one, I will search for illegal immigrants around hotels run by Spanish guys. Now let's talk about the movie.
Stellar Debuts and Pitch-Perfect Casting
FREDDY:
This was Chiwetel Ejiofor's debut on the big screen, and what a great debut! This guy's performance is amazing and immediately I felt empathy and sympathy for the Khat chewing Nigerian. And what about Sergi López (Juan)? The total opposite, it's soooo easy to hate that guy! Tautou (Senay) is also great. Great casting was done here.
This was Chiwetel Ejiofor's debut on the big screen, and what a great debut! This guy's performance is amazing and immediately I felt empathy and sympathy for the Khat chewing Nigerian. And what about Sergi López (Juan)? The total opposite, it's soooo easy to hate that guy! Tautou (Senay) is also great. Great casting was done here.
KRASNAYA:
About the cast. Yeah! I totally agree! Again - BRAVO! Every character is so unique and vivid. Everyone can make you feel something. As you said, really warm feelings for Okwe and 100% disgust for that Spanish hotelier. I didn't know about Chiwetel Ejiofor and his debut! WOW! I'm looking forward to seeing him in other roles. Audrey Tautou is actually one of my favorite modern actresses and here she's wonderful, playing a Turkish woman that runs away from her home country to show that she's independent and can live according to the Muslim religion in a foreign place.
About the cast. Yeah! I totally agree! Again - BRAVO! Every character is so unique and vivid. Everyone can make you feel something. As you said, really warm feelings for Okwe and 100% disgust for that Spanish hotelier. I didn't know about Chiwetel Ejiofor and his debut! WOW! I'm looking forward to seeing him in other roles. Audrey Tautou is actually one of my favorite modern actresses and here she's wonderful, playing a Turkish woman that runs away from her home country to show that she's independent and can live according to the Muslim religion in a foreign place.
A Tense Thriller That Lingers
KRASNAYA:
I spent some time thinking and rethinking after the movie. The thing I understand for myself again is that it's very hard to find a place on earth where other people will be glad to see a "new" neighbor, and how lucky you are if you find such welcoming people. I will stop here with my own thoughts. This is a MUST SEE movie for me, and I was picking up scabs from my heart at the end of it. The genre is drama and thriller, and the director, Stephen Frears, did his job wonderfully. Every scene is in the right place. I wouldn't leave any chapter out. All this is accomplished with amazing music that dives you into the action and makes you feel goosebumps, fear, anger and so on. The most surprising part is that you can't see almost any British people in the movie; all the characters are immigrants. They all have different "status" and some of them already name themselves "British". In one scene, you can see immigration police hunting for people. This is already enough to understand how difficult it is for immigrants to survive... but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I spent some time thinking and rethinking after the movie. The thing I understand for myself again is that it's very hard to find a place on earth where other people will be glad to see a "new" neighbor, and how lucky you are if you find such welcoming people. I will stop here with my own thoughts. This is a MUST SEE movie for me, and I was picking up scabs from my heart at the end of it. The genre is drama and thriller, and the director, Stephen Frears, did his job wonderfully. Every scene is in the right place. I wouldn't leave any chapter out. All this is accomplished with amazing music that dives you into the action and makes you feel goosebumps, fear, anger and so on. The most surprising part is that you can't see almost any British people in the movie; all the characters are immigrants. They all have different "status" and some of them already name themselves "British". In one scene, you can see immigration police hunting for people. This is already enough to understand how difficult it is for immigrants to survive... but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
FREDDY:
It's a movie worth watching, and better viewed if you don't know anything about the plot. There's great suspense and mystery that will keep you entertained until the last moment. Now let me see where I can find some of those Khat leaves...
It's a movie worth watching, and better viewed if you don't know anything about the plot. There's great suspense and mystery that will keep you entertained until the last moment. Now let me see where I can find some of those Khat leaves...
Krasnaya's Score
93/100
Freddy's Score
81/100
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