Devoted to show business and the entertainment industry

A few stories from behind the scenes on location in Mozambique and South Africa with the film, The Blood Diamond, at www.diamond-key.com. [The photography credits Djimon Hounsou and Simon, on the left, and Charl Beukes and Simon, on the right, on the home page should be attributed to David McGregor, and are the Intellectual Property of the Amputee Club of South Africa.]

The Blood Diamond is an important film. On the surface, in the reel world, it is a romantic adventure film (set in Sierra Leone in the 1990s); but, behind the scenes it is a social commentary on a number of subjects that are very important in the real world that we live in today.

The film is only one of a number of non-fiction books (Tom Zoellner’s The Heartless Stone); novels (Jon Lamb’s Blood Diamonds); documentaries about children (Stolen Childhoods); documentaries about women (Zulu Love Affairs by Emmanuelle Bidou); and major Hollywood films (Syriana and The Constant Gardener) that have tackled western business for exploiting the African continent for profit and control of natural resources.

But the question has to be asked why it is so different with reference to the diamond industry and the reaction of the representatives of the industry to a film that is yet to be released. www.diamond-key.com/companies/

Starting with the accuracy of this comment about Nelson Mandela’s coming to the defense of De Beers: “The diamond industry is vital to the Southern African economy.”

This is a statement that De Beers allegedly would like to have added to the end title of the film; however, it was said in 1999 in support of initiatives to bring an end to the trade in conflict diamonds. It is not clear if Mandela was even asked or would be amenable to this being used at the present time in a different context.

On the other hand, the film industry has many who endorse its endeavors.

www.diamond-key.com/diamonds

1] Films are a powerful and evocative tool for fostering understanding and tolerance in the world." - Nelson Mandela 2] The ability of films to communicate crucial information, about land mines and other hazards, can also save lives…a community spirit flourishes where thousands assemble to watch a film." - Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations 3] Films have become as essential as water and food - Kofi Mable, Head of Kakuma sub-Office, UNHCR 4] Education helps preserve a reassuring stability in the lives of these children…And film can help foster one of childhood's most precious assets - imagination. - Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF 5] For those who have suffered human catastrophe and lost almost everything, the capacity to imagine a better future is essential for mental well-being. Movies can provide a way to escape a narrow, painful daily existence. - Sarah Sheldon, Doctors of the World

Muchnick,

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

You mention:

"It is not clear if Mandela was even asked or would be amenable to this being used at the present time in a different context."

That's an interesting thought that would probably only be able to be cleared up by Mandela himself.

Unless it is, we probably won't know until the film is promoted and/or released to see how it is tied in; if at all.