Movie English Assignment #4 -Blood Diamond-

Blood Diamond is based on a true story about the diamond industry in Africa. Here is my opinion of what the title “Blood Diamond” means.

The title, “Blood Diamond” has two meanings. First, in Sierra Leone, several groups were in dispute in connection with natural resources. During that process, to get diamonds, a lot of people died as slaves to find them. It means that their blood is bleeding to get diamonds. Second, especially guerilla fighters, they pay for their weapons using diamonds. These weapons exist to kill people and it means that there are diamonds in Sierra Leone that take away people’s lives. Blood is the source of life. Therefore, it means blood is spilt because of diamonds.

Leonardo DiCaprio played a diamond smuggler in the movie. Throughout the movie you can see that his life undergoes a drastic transformation. Here is my opinion what the transformation is.

In the beginning, it’s natural for Archer, DiCaprio plays, to shot somebody, to kill someone, and to lie. And he smiled derisively, and he was kind of a nihilist. In the end of the movie, he smiled naturally and showed kindness to Solomon, Solomon’s son, and Maddy.  And, he was not a nihilist.

In the scenes Solomon spoke about his son, Archer concerned about it and talked to Maddy about it. He showed the evidences about trading diamonds to Maddy. Before then, Archer used other people to do some and it’s natural for him. However, when Maddy sharpened her wit and got along with a vigilant group, he thanked and prized her. After he talked with Benjamin Kapanay, he spoke his mind and his past. After then, his smile became natural. When Solomon said he didn’t understand Archer’s action, Archer agreed with him, and they laughed. When Archer couldn’t walk more, he gave back the pink-diamond to Solomon. Solomon said he thought that Archer brought the diamond and wouldn’t give back. Archer said he thought a little bit, and laughed. These are the drastic transformation in Archer.

This semester I covered five true stories about extraordinary people who have made a different in their own lives and in the lives of others. Here is what I learned from these movies.

These movies were showed me that any people who have various painful circumstances can change themselves, their own life, people around them, and their situation if they have strong will and never give up. Erin in Freedom Writers has never given up, and she changed her students.  She and the students could change the rule in the school. Coach Carter in Coach Cater also changed his students and made them stronger in their basketball skill and their mind. Chris in The Pursuit of Happyness got the new job and made his life better. He always thought positive and never gave up.  He had a quick-witness and he continued acting for a better life. Erin in Erin Brockovich got new job without knowledge and devoted to winning the law case with a big company about the environmental pollution. Archer in Blood Diamonds showed me that his life underwent a drastic transformation. I learned the importance of having self-confidence and never giving up from these movies.

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