Returning to his hometown of Corrientes, Dr Plarr reconnects with old friends as well as making new acquaintances. He is befriended by the alcoholic British honorary consul and quickly starts an affair with his young beautiful wife. When he is approached to help the rebels kidnap the American ambassador, they capture the consul by mistake. Now Parr must choose between saving the consul or keeping the consul's wife…

The Honorary Consul (1983. 1 hr, 43 min, 39 sec) is a steamy drama of love and betrayal, directed by John Mackenzie.

Mackenzie has made some good films, including The Long Good Friday (1980), which I’m guessing is why Bob Hoskins turns up playing the Junta colonel Perez. Unfortunately, this is not such a good film for anyone involved.

Richard Gere plays Plarr, whose father was a rebel and so is naturally approached by his old friend to help kidnap the Ambassador. Michael Caine is Charley Fortnum, the alcoholic consul and the only one who redeems himself as an actor.

There are few problems with the film. Firstly, the characters have few redeeming qualities making it difficult for the audience to either like or empathise with them. Secondly, the pace of the film is unusually slow with everyone, apart for Caine delivering their lines languidly. Add in all the silences and the film is drained of any tension or drama.

Based on a Graham Greene novel, the Blu-ray presents the film in its complete uncut version. The disc only has a single extra on it, the original theatrical trailer (1 min, 51 sec).

The film is worth watching for Caine’s performance which is the best thing about this under whelming film.

5

Charles Packer