I watched this movie as it was selected as the opening film of the Dutch documentary film festival IDFA in 2011. It was a big disappointment. It's completely unclear to me what point the film maker wants to make here. There is not a single proof of 'real' diamond smuggling. The film only contains a lot of suggestive references to illegal behaviour by others without any confirmation. It rather seems like the film maker was not able to collect enough evidence for what he set out to do. However, the film maker himself obviously did engage in ethical questionable behaviour.
Even without watching the film, it's obvious that in a country such as the Central African Republic in its current state with e.g. a poor human rights situation and a history of civil war, one cannot expect the same standards of legal and ethical behaviour that we expect in the developed world. However, a statement such as 'there is a ruling political class in the capital which spends most of its time on illegal activities' without any further references adds no value whatsoever.
I also have no understanding for the approach of portraying himself as the parody of a 'neo-colonial' businessman. It's occasionally mildly funny, but beyond that rather feels embarrassing for the film maker himself than for the Africans who go along with his behaviour.
Thus, overall this film is neither worth watching nor worth the attention it got.
Even without watching the film, it's obvious that in a country such as the Central African Republic in its current state with e.g. a poor human rights situation and a history of civil war, one cannot expect the same standards of legal and ethical behaviour that we expect in the developed world. However, a statement such as 'there is a ruling political class in the capital which spends most of its time on illegal activities' without any further references adds no value whatsoever.
I also have no understanding for the approach of portraying himself as the parody of a 'neo-colonial' businessman. It's occasionally mildly funny, but beyond that rather feels embarrassing for the film maker himself than for the Africans who go along with his behaviour.
Thus, overall this film is neither worth watching nor worth the attention it got.