BLOOD DIAMOND

BLOOD DIAMOND
For my independent study, i am focusing on the film 'Blood Diamond', which is an action/drama film about the civil war in Sierra Leone in 1999, fuelled by the diamond trade. It was made in 2006 and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly and is directed by Edward Zwick.

There are many things that i am going to analyse and research, starting with the factual information about the actual goings on in Africa at that time, and how it compares with the information given in the film. I am also going to research about the genocides and civil wars that Africa has had in its history, and whether or not they are still happening nowadays and if they are as bad as described in the films battle scenes. I will also have to analyse the diamond trade, which is the main aspect of the film, and how it fuelled the civil wars in Sierra Leone and many other parts of Africa. As well as the conflict happening at that time, I am also going to research about the history of movies in Africa as well as Hollywood, and see how this film uses and compares ideas from both, in order to get its viewpoint across to a wider audience.

I intend to analyse how the characters in the film are represented, and what they all add to the film, as well as what the impact is of having the two main characters playing completely opposing roles. One of the main things I will analyse, is how the film ‘Blood Diamond’ reflects on the real life issues that happened in Africa in 1999, and whether it is a truthful representation, or more fiction based. I will also find out how the film defies the normal conventions of an action movie, because as well as being very entertaining, it also conveys a powerful message to anyone who watches it, and there is only really one good character, whereas all the others are almost villainous. The film must have had a big effect on the legitimate diamond trade, and I am going to analyse the effect that it had (if any), and if it has changed many peoples opinions on buying diamonds. I will also analyse what the film is trying to imply, and if it is trying to be either a great entertaining action movie, or a drama based film with messages interlinked into it. Another main aspect, of which I am going to analyse, is whether it portrays the different races fairly and truthfully, and not leaning towards one and making the other look bad. For example, does the film imply that all Africans were murderers and went around killing each other, and all whites were all money hungry and were only after diamonds so that they could get rich?

I will analyse all of these things and some more in my final write-up so that I give an in depth analysis on the film and the messages that it conveys.