Rating: R
Genre:
Thriller
Theatrical Release: 12/13/2002(U.K.),
Release Date: 03/23/2004
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 97 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Profanity, Sexual Situations
Distributor/Studio: Miramax
Director
Stephen Frears returns to the grittier themes of his earlier films for the
urban thriller Dirty Pretty Things. Residing in London, the medically trained
Okwe (
Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a Nigerian immigrant working as a taxi driver and a hotel concierge, but he still lives on the edge of poverty. He shares a room with
Senay (
Amélie's
Audrey Tautou making her English-language debut), a Turkish refugee who works as a maid at the hotel. As illegal immigrants,
Okwe and
Senay live in fear of being deported. One night, working at the front desk,
Okwe receives a call from prostitute
Juliette (
Sophie Okonedo) to check a broken toilet, where he makes a horrifying discovery. He reports it to the manager
Sneaky (
Sergi Lopez), who blackmails
Okwe into staying quiet about it.
Okwe soon discovers the presence of a shady business operation that sends him into the seedy London underworld.
Senay becomes lured in with hopes of being able to fund her escape to America.
Dirty Pretty Things marks the screenwriting debut of
Steve Knight, co-creator of the game show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
;)
