Unit 25 Film Studies : Blood Diamond Film Analysis

Blood Diamond

Film Analysis

Blood Diamond is a popular action block-buster starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Djimon Hounso, and Jennifer Connelly. The central themes of the movie are greed, redemption, nature vs civilisation, and civil rights. The movie is set in Sierra Leone during a very bloody and gruesome civil war between the RUF (Revolutionary United Front.) And the Government.

The first protagonist we are introduced to is Solomon Vandy, played by Djimon Hounso. His village is destroyed by the RUF rebels, and his son is taken. He him self ends up a prisoner, mining for diamonds before being imprisoned by the government after finding a large diamond during a raid. Solomon's character represents the underachiever, happy with his lot in life, his family, yet still plagued by the chaos caused by a greed filled western market.

The second is Danny Archer, played by Leonardo Dicaprio. Danny is a brash mercenary, an ex soldier, who smuggles weapons to rebel generals, in return for the conflict diamonds to sell outside the country. His character is smug, conceited at the beginning, never seen without a cigarette or a drink. He over hears an argument between Solomon and one of the Rebel generals about the diamond that Solomon found. Archer promises Solomon that he will be united with his family in return for the stone. Archer reflects civilisation, and just how a high demand in consumerism can lead to dire consequences, and how people will do very absurd things to earn quick money in bulk. He is by nature a desire driven character.

The third is Maddy Bowen, an American Journalist who's sole interest is to uncover the conflict diamond trading, as well as make an over reaching awareness on how bad the situation is in Sierra Leone, as well as point out the influence the western agenda has on the territory. Maddy frequently argues with Archer in terms of morality issues, Archer happily points out that consumers are the reason rebels slaughter villages in the masses to sell those gems for guns, whilst Maddy fires back, pointing out Archers vulture like nature, and how he was exploiting Solomon to gain the Diamond.

This much covers most of the exposition, making characters and their alignment to justice, and their thoughts and opinions on the atrocities they witness.

The film uses many long angular shots during scenes of conflict, displaying chaotic military might and the strength of combined tactics and surroundings as men march in lines firing on the innocent, and the guilty alike. This shows the sheer brutality of the civil war, and just how easy it was to end up a casualty to either side. Close ups define tense emotional moments, giving an insight in to what kind of mind set the characters truly are in. One particular example was when Solomon and Archer fight, Solomon enraged that Archer suggests his son was another casualty, and Archer anxious to get his diamond, almost paranoid like, making sure Solomon doesn't move without his consent. Their eyes meet in extreme close ups numerous times, until they conclude.

Through out the film, Archer is seen as uncaring, though towards the end of the conflict, he finally turns on his allies and friends, killing his former boss in order to save Solomon and his son, by this point he had stopped smoking, and drinking altogether, subtly hinting and his redemption. The final full turn to his redeeming act is his ultimate self sacrifice, passing on the diamond he had trekked across the jungle to take. He hands the diamond to Solomon, and stays behind whilst Solomon flees to the plane. Archer phones Maddy, and tells her to locate Solomon and ultimately sets up the last part of the movie, the resolution.

Archer ends up a victim of his own desires, realising to late that his greed is ultimately what ended him. This realisation spurs him to tell Maddy to meet Solomon in London, and giving Solomon the stone. The films biggest antagonist is Van De Kaap, being a large jewellry company that sells and holds onto diamonds. Maddy and Solomon set Van De Kaap up with the large diamond, using it as a way to get Solomons family back to him, and ending up with Van De Kaap paying for its crimes. The film ends on a conference discussing the conflict diamonds.

The film shows the reality and the harshness of the Sierra Leone civil war, and how children were exploited and used as soldiers, being brain washed into believing their families were traitors. The journey being portrayed as a villain its self, as the trio trek through harsh environments, being attacked along each way. It shows the nature of man taking from nature to sell for a living, exploiting the indigenous locals and even their war and politics to fuel this greed. Fundamentally, the film shows many sub elements and plot lines, boasting good characters, heavy action scenes, and dramatic moments all set in a brutal environment that's still fresh in the minds of many, with happening not 30 years ago.