Against the backdrop of a brutal civil war, three people are brought together by a rare diamond that could change all of their lives. Their search takes them across a country being torn apart by violence, greed, and the international trade that profits from both. It’s part war movie, part adventure thriller, and part indictment of what can be hiding behind something as simple as a piece of jewelry. Next week we’re reviewing a movie about survival, redemption, and the horrifying human cost of getting a diamond from the ground onto somebody’s finger.

Commissioned by: Rob H. • 8/8/26

• Year: 2006
• Budget: About $100 million
• Box Office: About $171 million worldwide
• Awards: Nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio and Best Supporting Actor for Djimon Hounsou
• Fun Facts: The story is fictional but was inspired by the real conflict diamond trade that helped finance wars in parts of Africa during the 1990s. DiCaprio worked extensively on the Rhodesian-influenced accent used by his character and spent time in South Africa preparing for the role. Much of the movie was filmed in South Africa and Mozambique. The film also helped bring the issue of conflict diamonds to a much larger mainstream audience at a time when the international diamond industry was already facing increased scrutiny.