Far exceeded expectations

Rating: 8/10 (23 July 2007)

I watched this film with very low expectations - mainly because it was a big budget Hollywood film about Africa. I therefore naturally expected it, like The Constant Gardener, to be full of subtle-as-a-sledgehammer clichés inspired by trendy, Bono-lite politics rather than harsh reality. I was therefore taken by surprise to see an intelligent, gritty, well-acted film which though tragic never becomes mawkish and does not attempt to trivialise Africa's problems by blaming them on an easy target. The brutish violence on show is undoubtedly necessary, albeit unsettling especially given the age of many of the perpetrators and victims. Leonardo di Caprio gives an accomplished performance in the lead role and is certainly believable as an Afrikaans smuggler. His is a heroic and sympathetic, if uncomfortable character who in his own bitter way lays waste to some of the West's cosy ideas about Africa. His unrequited relationship with the female journalist meanwhile is quietly poignant and never overly-sentimental. The cinematography and direction is glorious and the scenes of Africa absolutely beautiful. Blood Diamond isn't perfect - it deals better, perhaps, with the issue of child soldiers than diamonds, and it would have been more effective had it ended on the African cliffs rather than in an auditorium in London, but these are minor gripes. This is a very impressive, hard-hitting film which deserves to be seen.