The film Dirty Pretty Things reminds you that there is a wholeworld of complication and struggle for the displaced refugee tryingto find a new homeland and a whole maze of problems mainstreamAmerica never has to think about.
Directed by Stephen Frears, set in present day London, the storyis of survival first, love second.
Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is an illegal immigrant who never sleepsand chews foreign herbs to make it through his near 24-hour workschedule.
During the day, he works at a cab company, where he's oftenrequested by his co-workers to use his medical knowledge todiagnose and treat venereal diseases.
At night, he is a pressed and starched front desk worker at ahotel.
Okwe becomes alarmed when he finds a human heart blocking atoilet in a suite.
The true nature of the hotel's business -- namely illegalactivities -- becomes clear to Okwe, who is initially determined tostay away from anything immoral.
Senay (Audrey Tautou) is an illegal immigrant from Turkey who istrying to avoid ending up like her mother.
Senay, a celibate Buddhist, allows Okwe to stay in herone-bedroom apartment when she is at the hotel working as amaid.
Soon, though, immigration services threaten to arrest her forworking without a visa -- forcing her to run.
Every bit of her dignity is tested as she tries to get afalsified passport to go to New York City.
It is a story that is as sad as it is shocking to an Americanwho has been bred on the idea that with hard work you can betteryour lot in life.
Okwe -- a believer of that creed -- finds that belief tested andfinds a way to use the secrets of his past life as a medicalstudent in a surprise twist ending.
It is not a flashy or thrilling film, but emotionally grippingand haunting.
It is a look at how the other 80 or so percent of the worldlives, struggling to get ahead to reach a decent way of life.
(3/4 Stars)
