Blood Diamond

Year: 2006
Director: Edward Zwick
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly

I had wanted to watch this film ever since I heard of it. I felt that its subject matter, along with the casting and the director, would make it a worthwhile experience. And indeed it was.

Blood Diamond is set in Sierra Leone in the 1990s, during the chaotic and violent civil war taking place there. The title refers to diamonds being mined by people captured by the rebels, which are consequently used to fund the war against the government. In this story, a Mende fisherman, Solomon Vandy, leads a poor but contented life with his family, until the rebels attack his village. His family manage to escape, but Solomon is captured and forced to work in the diamond mines.

One day, he finds a big diamond, and as luck would have it, manages to hide it as the government forces storm the rebel troops. Word of the diamond gets out while he is in the lock-up, and heard by Zimbabwean diamond smuggler Danny Archer, who happened to be in there at the same time. Archer realises that this diamond may be his opportunity to buy his way out of Africa and put an end to being a smuggler for good. So he uses his connections to pull some strings and gets close to Solomon. Archer persuades Solomon to lead him to the diamond in exchange for helping him find his family. This is made harder however, when they find out that Solomon's family have become refugees, and his son has been captured by the rebels and brainwashed to join them as a soldier.

Meanwhile, an American journalist named Maddy Bowen runs into Archer, and tries to persuade him to reveal the secrets of the illegal diamond trade for her to publish to the world. Archer is reluctant, but gives in when he realises she can help him get to places he can't. He still wants the diamond for himself however, but will Archer do the right thing when they finally reach the diamond? Will he help Solomon get his son back? Time slowly runs out as Archer's superior, Colonel Coetzee closes in on them...

Many critics have praised DiCaprio's performance here, and I can't agree more. He puts in an intense and truly memorable performance as the diamond smuggler who eventually remembers why he has to do the right thing. DiCaprio also sports a convincing African accent for this role, probably even better than Nicole Kidman's accent in The Interpreter. Hounsou is also believable as Solomon, the father determined to do whatever it takes to save his son. Connelly is merely a supporting actor here to the two men, but she makes very good use of her screen time with a sterling portrayal of the journalist determined to get her story out.

Director Edward Zwick, who helmed the memorable The Last Samurai, spares no effort in depicting the horrors of the civil war in Africa. The intensity of violence, chaos and war look very real indeed. This is Africa at its worst, and you will feel for all the people who perish and suffer thanks to the war. Kudos to Zwick for his excellent direction.

Apparently this film has made several diamond trading companies around the world to release statements on the legal origin of their stones, so perhaps the message delivered by the film has come across successfully. On a lighter note, both DiCaprio and Hounsou have been nominated for acting Oscars. Based on the competition they will be facing, their chances of winning may be slim though. I would personally like DiCaprio to win, he's been long overdue for an award. Watch this if you enjoy excellent dramatic performances. You won't be disappointed. (4/5)