Dirty Pretty Things (2002)

(London; 2001)

Director Stephen Frears Dirty Pretty Things takes a look at the plight of illegal immigrants in present day England. Chjwetel Ejiofor is Okwe, and illegal immigrant from Nigeria, a former doctor who has a secret past. An insomniac he is keeping down several jobs, including cab driver, hotel desk clerk, and underground physician, while renting a sofa from Turkish refugee Senay (French actress Audrey Tautou). One night, while cleaning a backed up toilet in one of the rooms at the hotel, Okwe discovers a human heart clogging up the thing. Okwe wants to do something about this, but as he is an illegal immigrant, is afraid of deportation should he become directly involved. In process of time Okwe discovers an back door organ harvesting operation praying on illegal aliens, and offering in exchanged forged passports and other documentation. Okwe battles his consense, with his desire to stay in England so as to avoid a horrible fate awaiting him in his home country. An appropriate story for our times, it reflects the human condition suffered by many people caught between circumstances and the system. A David Byrne song plays over the closing credits.