Realism in Blood Diamond

I think that the movie Blood Diamond is a good modern example of Realism. One social issue being addresses is diamond smuggling from war zones, and financing revolutionary war efforts through the profits. This is a relatively common thing to happen in Africa. Another one of the social issues being addressed, which is also not that uncommon in Africa, is the subject of child soldiers. The children are kidnapped during village raids and seduced into fighting through drugs and brainwashing.



Blood Diamond shows many thing that would be considered very graphic by some. In one scene you see how the Revolutionary United Front coerces children they have kidnapped to fight for them. It starts with all of the children being lined up and told that their parents, family and neighbors are all weak and useless. Then, they are told that only through joining the RUF will they be able to escape a fate similar to that of the weak. They are then shown how to do multiple forms of drugs, and told that through the drugs they are invincible.