In 2006, American director Edward Zwick joined with Leonardo DiCaprio to create a film based on the bloody trading of African diamonds. "Blood Diamond" was officially released, which triggered the audience's attention and discussion on diamond trading. The film was filled with bloody and ironic style and the true reproduction of human nature behind diamond mining. It was shortlisted for Oscar’s best actor and supporting actor. The nomination for the five major awards is a classic with strong practical significance. "Blood Diamond" reveals the local illegal diamond trade in Sierra Leone in West Africa. A local fisherman named Solomon Vandy buried a precious pink diamond in the soil. In the chaos he was jailed and learned that his son was rebel. To join the child mercenary, he must find the diamond in exchange for his son. Danny Archer, who started trading in the illegal diamonds at the age of 17, was a mercenary businessman from South Africa. He aimed at this pink diamond and decided to help Solomon escape the prison and rescue his family in order to get a pink diamond. But in the end, Danny, who was seriously injured, returned the diamond to Solomon and covered their father and son to escape the plane, and they died under the gun of the rebel.

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In order to truly show the social scene of the civil war in Sierra Leone and the reality of the smuggling of diamonds and arms, Zwick not only took the crew stationed in the Mozambique studio for six months, but also invited an expert Soris Samla to serve as a consultant. This work, which was exchanged for blood, was regarded by Zwick as a visual textbook for studying social problems in Sierra Leone. Samla was naturally invited by Zwick to provide documentary guidance for the filming of “Blood Diamond”. Samla incorporates the documentary style and visual impact pursued by his documentary into the filming, making the film a different reflection and deeper meaning than the general Hollywood entertainment films.

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Close-ups are used many times in the film. At the end of the film, when Danny Archer grabs a red clay with a bloody hand, the film uses a close-up lens to enhance the artistic charm of the film while also portraying it delicately. The complex mood of the characters, and the audience brought to a quiet atmosphere, in sharp contrast with the scene of the gun battle in front, is to achieve a degree of relaxation. This is also a good response to the previous secen. When the general grabbed a hand and asked Danny Archer to know why the soil was red, Danny Archer said that he did not know. The general told him that this was the blood of the people who are vying for the land is red, which seems to imply the final fate of Danny Archer, and will use his own blood to dye this ancient land.

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In the face of money, the weakness of human nature is often exposed. As the French writer Balzac said: "It is just a little bit that can make beauty become ugly. Old become young." When we look at the crystal clear diamonds again, we no longer only love Its beauty, behind it. We faintly see the cruelty of coexistence with beauty. As Solomon wished: "When the war is over, it will become a paradise." The film not only reveals the horrible shady behind it, but also highlights the humanistic sentiment of the film itself. Throughout the film "Blood Diamond", the director is supported by his background with a sense of history. Under the premise of satisfying the conflict of film and drama, he truly restores the bloody cruelty and human greed behind the African diamond trade. The film is full of African forms. The rich color elements form a strong contrast with the dark red blood, deeply criticize and reflect on the survival predicament of the African people behind the beautiful material. It reminds people that “there is no killing without buying and selling”, such a well-known but not valued theme of the film. With its scenes, smooth soundtrack and superb acting skills, this movie has become an excellent film that can be regarded as a classic.

Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1372-blood-diamond?language=en-US
Critic: AAA