Set in the West African country of Sierra Leone during 1999, this historical-adventure-drama covers a time when the country was in turmoil. Warlords, smugglers and the diamond syndicate all play roles in a refugee exodus, and the killing and enslaving of men to work the diamond fields. Blood Diamond refers to the conflict diamonds which are harvested, smuggled and traded to finance the purchase of weapons used in Civil War.
As ex-mercenary Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) captures the essence of a conflicted smuggler from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) making a living running stolen diamonds from Sierra Leone to Liberia. Archer chances upon the mention of a rare pink diamond that has been hidden in the mountains and determines to locate it. Leonardo DiCaprio was amazing in the movie; I’ve seen him did a good job before in Aviator (The BioPic of Howard Hughes) and felt that he have shed the lover boy charm, grows up to be a fully matured actor.
Another, not so smart and not so talkative character is that of Solomon Vandy (Djimon Housou) who lives the life of a humble fisherman. He is separated from his family and sent to work mining diamonds where he chances on a huge Pink Diamond (~100 Karat). Danny Archer decided to take that for himself and retire from business. Journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) is trying to find new stories to expose major players in the conflict diamond trade. While on the talk of Journalist, Indian cinegoers might have seen the French Journalist played by Gourav Chopra, who is popular among the Indian TV Serial - Piya Ka Ghar. His cameo was to utter some “Fuck You …. ” to Solomon Vandy/Danny Archer when they were fired upon entering a Refugee Camp area.
Maddy wanted to know about the truth behind conflict diamonds, thus exposing the corruption of European diamond industry leaders who choose the bottom line over humanity. In this melee, the trio became co-dependent on one another. Maddy needs a story yet yearns to comfort the emotionally vulnerable Archer; Archer wants to recover the valuable diamond to salvage his life and his sanity; and Vandy desperately needs the stone as a means to recover his son, who has been forced into the role of child-soldier by rebel forces. He is particularly proud of his 12 year old Boy, Dia (Kagiso Kuypers) who is a good student who dreams of becoming a doctor. His other family includes his wife, a baby daughter and another grown up daughter.
Danny and Maddy are attracted to each other but have very different perspectives. She is an idealist who wants to expose corruption; she’s convinced that people wouldn’t buy a ring if they knew it meant someone losing a hand. He is a cynic who believes that everyone is using everyone else so looking out for number one is the only way; besides, in Africa people killing each other has become a way of life. On his journey to locate the diamond with Solomon, Danny’s eyes are opened to some enduring values that transcend his own self-interest.
The Movie is a fast paced, adventure packed, sometimes extremely brutal and never boring. This is a big budget feature film but with a historical theme which eventually relays a message. Director Edward Zwick have given us yet another extremely touching and entertaining movie.
In Africa, “When a substance is found, the locals die”. It was true at the height of the ivory trade. It’s true in the Congo now where sales of gold and coltan (used in cell phones) are fueling the conflict. It threatens to be true in the Ivory Coast. And the Bushmen, who lived like their ancestors as hunter-gatherers in the Kalahari desert, are now living in relocation camps after diamonds were discovered on their traditional lands.
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