Dark Diamond 2016
Distributed by First Run Features, 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036; 212-243-0600
Produced by David Thion and Philippe Martin
Directed by Arthur Harari
DVD , color, 115 min.
General Adult
Crime, Family Relations, Feature Films, Grief
Date Entered: 02/03/2017
Reviewed by Nicole Jesse, Central Library, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, NYDark Diamond is a feature film that takes the viewer through a simple view of the purchasing and trading of diamonds through a family business. The main focus is on Pierre, who deals with his father’s death by plotting an elaborate heist on relatives that he believes have abandoned him.
The film is in French, with English subtitles. The subtitles were of good quality, easy to follow, and stayed on the screen long enough to be able to follow the storyline and the theatrics on screen at the same time. There was one thing that was odd about a book Pierre was reading in the film, it was in English. Since the film itself is in French I would have thought he would be reading a French book, not English since it is not spoken or mentioned as a language the characters use in the film whatsoever.
The first 20 minutes of the film were disconnected, with characters and scenes being introduced with little to no explanation as who they were, or why the viewer is seeing them. The disconnectedness comes up occasionally through the rest of the film. The imagery used in the film is visually striking, and enhances the plot.