Film Review: The Honorary Consul (Beyond the Limit, 1983)

Novels by Graham Greene were popular among film makers because of their exotic settings, thriller plots and unusual characters with strong moral dilemmas. Although Greene provided basis and script for The Third Man, most film adaptations of his work, especially in the later decades, turned disappointing or became obscure. Such was fate of The Honorary Consul, 1983 thriller drama directed by John Mackenzie (known as Beyond the Limit in US market).

Plot of the film, based on the eponymous novel, is set in provincial city in northern Argentina, near the border with Paraguay. The protagonist, played by Richard Gere, is Dr. Eduardo Plarr, half-English half-Paraguayan physician who came there in order to be as close as possible to his father, who had disappeared after being detained by Paraguayan authorities. Plarr’s charm and English background allow him to have very diverse set of friends and acquaintances that include members of local elite and Colonel Perez (played by Bob Hoskins), policeman who works for ruling right-wing military junta. Plarr meets and befriends Charly Fortnum (played by Michael Caine), alcoholic British expatriate who holds the title of British honorary consul. He also meets his young wife Clara (played by Elpidia Carrillo), former prostitute whom he had first seen in local brothel. Two of them begin torrid affair, but things get even more complicated with the arrival of Eduardo’s childhood friend Leon (Joaquim de Almeida), defrocked Catholic priest who leads small band of Paraguyan leftist militants. They want to set their imprisoned comrades free and the best opportunity for that might be provided by American ambassador who is about to visit local waterfalls. Plarr reluctantly provides information about ambassador’s itinerary when Leon hints that his father might be on the prisoners to be ransomed. The kidnapping of the ambassador, however, goes very wrong and Plarr now must find way to save Fortnum’s life while maintaining his relationship with Clara and, at the same time, Colonel Perez appears to be increasingly aware of Plarr’s involvement in those events.

The Honorary Consul is a solid film with interesting plot, well-written characters and more than decent production values, but it is nevertheless strangely underwhelming and constantly leaves impression of being worse than it should have been. This might be partially attributed to director Mackenzie whose uninspired style makes this film, shot on Mexican locations and in famous Shepperton studios, look like cheap television production. But the biggest problem might be in Richard Gere, an actor who was cast at the height of his Hollywood stardom. He took his role very seriously and worked hard, even bothering to learn speaking with British accent (something that most American actors of his stature usually don’t do), but he nevertheless looks too Hollywood-like for this role. Gere’s status as a sex symbol in this film is underlined with obligatory sex scene in which he appears naked. His partner Elpidia Carrillo did much better job in potentially thankless role, while Bob Hoskins, one of Britain’s top character actors, provided interesting performance as seemingly sympathetic villain. Portuguese actor Joaquim de Almeida played very good role and The Honorary Consul later became springboard for his Hollywood career. But the film was in the end rescued by Michael Caine who very effectively plays character who begins as a pathetic drunk only to end the film as the only person the audience might root for. Although watchable and entertaining, The Honorary Consul is film with plenty of wasted potential, and that includes otherwise effective musical theme by Paul McCartney which simply isn’t used properly in the film.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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