I never knew that Diamonds cost so much more than mere moolah! What this movie told me was – that the real color of Diamonds, Oil, Gold etc is always red. In the movie the guy – Solomon Vandi (African) said that the soil attained the red color in Africa because of the perpetual bloodshed in the continent. The story is set in Seirra Leone (on the west coast of Africa ). What looks like a routine Civil War – (Post Independence in an ex-colony – read imperialzed nation); is anything but Civil. There is the RUF – as they call themselves: a radical group which is funded by western powers, in terms of weapons <now you should see Lord Of War and this movie back to back – but guns are not the subject here>. Entire villages are burnt down by this RUF, so as to get their ‘Support’.
The movie also brings into focus, what motivation techniques terrorist leaders employ to make their little “Masters of Disaster”. Drugs, Sex and Power. Carefully crafted imagery of the ‘Good Life’ is enough to trick poor, desperate youngsters, who have lost their families. Lost Everything. Brainwashing is their weapon of choice. There is a scene in the movie, where an African Teacher is explaining how imperialists cut off hands of the slaves.. hundreds of them. It is my personal belief that wherever there is overzealousness, wherever there is greed for power; there things are bound to go wrong.
Now there is a new form of imperialism. Economic. Diamonds/Gold, oil, nuclear raw material. What we are witnessing today is rise of economic imperialism. If I had to choose between Open War between nations and these silently-funded-hidden-discreetly provoked- genocide a.k.a “Civil” war, i would choose the former. Dont get me wrong, I am not FOR war and bloodshed, but it is just that this other kind of hidden war has possibly longer lasting consequences. Be it economic or otherwise.
Enter Di-Caprio. How do i describe his character? Well, I think it is right to call him a conflict profiteer with a heart. A man on a hunt for the 100 Karat diamond which Solomon Vandi found. Enter Jennifer Connelly, a journalist. LOL. A fellow journalist in the movie calls her a ‘Heat Seeking Missile”. Her character is this woman who wants to make a difference. She is not the “Pseudo-I-want-to-make-a-difference- , now can i have my Pulitzer? ” kind of woman. Yes, she has a way with words. Not tabloid; stupid, politician influenced media. I am going to digress a little bit, so bear with me. Look at 9/11. A false flag attack on your own country!
Anyways, this ‘Danny Boy’ Caprio, smuggles diamonds from Seirra Leone to Liberia. As a result Seirra Leone does not report any diamond exports. But ground reality is, people are killed and enslaved in this mania for diamonds. AS per the movie any Government Entity that comes close to this trade can be either bought, destroyed or blackmailed. I dont know if the actual condition has improved or is still the same. But as they say all art has a small part inspired from reality however nanoscopic it might be.
There is a very touching scene when this simple fisherman (Solomon Vandi) from Seirra Leone comes to London. He stops in front of a jewellery store to notice a beautiful diamond necklace. But im sorry, beauty is supposed to be a relative term 
.His own son was taken in by the RUF and trained to be a little “Master of Disaster”. Made cold blooded – like a fired bullet. Yet again i will digress a little bit. I remember a line from the movie The Lord Of War; Yuri Orlov, the weapons merchant ( The merchant of death) said ’ An AK-47 is so easy to use, that even children can use it ……. And they do!” I found it to be quite witty and humourous when i was watching that movie. After this movie, not so much. So, it all kind of fits and makes sense somehow. In an evil way.
But in the end, this War Profiteer dies and gives the (blood soaked) diamond to the fisherman and calls up the Journalist. No one can deny that The War Profiteer and The Journalist were in love. But at no point in the movie did it ever become “Filmy’ -If you know what i mean! Not once did DiCaprio say he loves her or vice versa. Quite well made i must say.
The other day i read a statement in the newspaper: Only 20% of the males born in the year 1923 in Russia, survived the second world war. So hundereds of thousands of 20-24 year olds died fighting. Fighting for a political cause, crafted by half dead twisted old goons. Ofcourse it is one’s duty to defend the nation. But that is not that point I am making. I dont know if you get it, but anyway. I havent really thought about this, well ill write it anyway (Bear with me people) : We must decide what we want to work towards in our lifetime. I accept that I myself do not know, to what purpose/idea/blah, i want my life to lean towards. Watching so much violence and risk. I have come to realize that : Those who risk are closer to achieving the purpose of their lives. And blessed are those who are not afraid of death. Take a few risks, live life.
Guess…im intrigued enough to watch the movie now!! I’d say more, only after ive seen the film…but, a really good post.