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A native African father searching for his family, a white African searching for a way out and an
American journalist searching to expose the truth… three characters brought together by an invaluable pink diamond amidst the Civil War in Sierra Leone in 1999.
Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCarpio) is a mercenary who convinces Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) to team up with him to sell the blood diamond the latter found when he was enslaved by the rebel forces. In return, Danny promises to find Solomon's captive family through his connections. They recruit Maddy's (Jennifer Connely) help in exchange for names and information on the diamond trade for the expose she is hoping to feature. Unfortunately, to Solomon's heartbreak, his son, Dia (Kagiso Kuypers) has been indoctrinated by rebel soldiers and is transformed into as cold-blooded child soldier.
Edward Zwick transforms a socio-political issue into a highly riveting and powerful film.
He maximizes the potentials of the intelligent scripting of Leavitt with a perfect balance of pushing the horror of a situation before going to the next sequence. The plot moves flawlessly with unforgettable lines and impressionable characters. DiCarpio and Hounsou give brilliant performances and so does the young Kuypers. The cinematography reveals the stunning beauty of Africa and the appalling violence of war with excellent editing piercing it tightly. The scoring is chillingly romantic. The film is perhaps one of the best of its genre.
This is the type of movie that makes one thankful he is merely an onlooker of actual events and
situations through the celluloid's drama. Blood Diamond
is an insightful movie exposing atrocities of consumerism, exploitation and corruption and gives a well backhand wakeup for the indifference and hypocrisy not only of world leaders and those in power but also of the common people living thousand of miles away from the conflict and violence. The horrors of war is excruciating affecting families and children and its scars are irreversible. But what is worse is how societies take advantage of poverty and conflict to further their personal interests. A haunting question is not what one is willing to risk to get what he wants but to know in the depths of his person what really will make him happy. As a native poetically says every person at the core is good. So does Danny Archer realize this that despite his fiery desire to get out of war torn continent and after all the risks he put has been through, he makes a most noble sacrifice for Solomon's family. Recommended for older audience because of the violence and gore.
(Date Reviewed: 11 January 2007)
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