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The Social Justice Commission of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa & Polynesia

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Blood Diamond reviewed

By / 4 July 2007

Blood Diamond is a rollicking good yarn with lots of action for the blokes, a love interest for the romantic among us, and a powerful message or two! Themes of redemption, reconciliation and justice underpin the story of an ex-mercenary turned smuggler (Leonardo Di Capprio as Danny Archer)… a Mende fisherman (Solomon Bo as Djimon Hounsou as Solomon Bo)… amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone. These men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman’s son who has been conscripted as a child soldier into the brutal rebel forces.

Directed by Edward Zwick, this urgent, intensely moving adventure shapes gripping human stories and heart-pounding action into a modern epic of profound impact. I imagine it will be easier movie to watch on the small screen than at the movies for those who can’t cope with humankinds inhumanity to each other. The Certificate is R 16 because of the bloodshed but the love story (between Danny and a journalist) is handled sensitively with no graphic sex.

Some have likened Danny to a type of Christ figure and he is; in some ways – but not in others, being the deeply flawed man that Danny is. What touched me more was one incredibly powerful scene. Here Danny and Solomon are threatened to be shot by Solomon’s son. Here I experienced afresh the extravagant grace of God. As Dia holds a gun in his face Solomon keeps repeating “You are Dia; you are a good boy.” Now I know we are all sinful, but doesn’t God see as through Christ and keep reaching out to us, in spite of our fallen-ness?

Rich plot, great acting especially by Housou; beautiful and terrible scenery, bit of a cheesy ending but definitely worth a look for the story itself and for the grace moments along with overarching themes!

For a deeper review see www.emergentkiwi.org.nz

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About us

This site is run by the Social Justice Commission of the Anglican Church.

We seek to nurture justice spirituality and imagination, and engage in advocacy in all areas of life, overcoming poverty and transforming violence.

We encourage people to think and live “justly”, and emphasise debate and action on local, national and global issues.

Although we are Anglican, our vision isn’t so much about being Anglican. It’s about living justly. Justice is about how you live your life, and being just where we are. Working together, we can all flourish.

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