Charitable pretense can often spoil the integrity of such politically-charged films as Blood Diamond. I entered the theater with images in mind of Leonardo DiCaprio following the celebrity “trend” of performing seemingly vain acts of charity in Africa. However, upon viewing director Edward Zwick’s latest movie in all its graphic gore and compelling content, it appears that DiCaprio’s work may have been sincere after all.
Zwick’s piece of historical fiction takes place in Sierra Leone during the 1999 civil war, revolving heavily around the Revolutionary United Front’s (RUF) illegal diamond trade and its attempt to overthrow the government. The story follows Danny Archer (DiCaprio), a South African mercenary, Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mendae fisherman, and Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American journalist. Each character has something another wants: Bowen seeks Archer’s knowledge of the underbelly of African diamond trade, Archer covets Vandy’s valuable diamond, and Vandy needs Bowen to locate his displaced family.
The strong portrayal of Blood Diamond’s protagonists keeps the audience grounded throughout Zwick’s haunting tragedy. Connelly and Hounsou deliver daring performances that are both highly emotional and personable. Although DiCaprio adequately portrays the conflicted leading figure at the heart of the tale, his angelic face and implacable accent don’t quite reflect the traumatic life of a mercenary, which would have better suited an older actor.
Despite the abundance of acting talent, the real star of Blood Diamond is Zwick’s eye for tragic setting. The poignant depiction of children in the RUF forces murdering African civilians emphasizes the terrible state of a greed stricken nation. Zwick aims to evoke empathy from his viewers using brutally jarring imagery, which proves more depressing than reading a news article on the events.
The director brings us face-to- face with the violence that plagued the region, as greedy warlords and corporate chairmen compete for diamonds regardless of the price that civilians must pay. One cannot help but cringe in horror at the sight of children shooting entire families and forcing civilians into mining slavery.
Zwick successfully crusades to affect his audience by providing a vivid and realistic environment. Although the RUF murders of innocent civilians are hard to swallow, such imagery of real conflict is undeniably powerful. Zwick’s film tortures the viewer’s psyche while heightening awareness of historically significant matters. It comes as no surprise that DiCaprio was moved to help the nation. Zwick’s tale of greed and brutality moves the hearts of its viewers and raises consciousness of contemporary issues.
