'Wild Diamond' Review - The Coming-Of-Age Film For The Influencer Era
Liane (Malou Khebizi) is a 19-year-old micro-influencer living at home with her mom and sister in southern France. She spends her days wandering aimlessly through the streets, stealing name-brand items from shopping centers and peddling them in smaller towns to fund her makeshift, lavish lifestyle. Early on in the film, Liane gets a call from a casting director of a reality television show, and she comes in for an audition. It seemingly goes well, leading to an ego boost and increased desire to get out of her current circumstance. The audition is the catalyst for the rest of the film, putting a heightened strain on Liane's relationships with her family and friends.
Cinematographer Noé Bach and composer Audrey Ismael combine their crafts to create an enthralling atmosphere for Liane's quest for stardom. There are a few club scenes where Liane focuses on dancers on stage and the music cuts out, with a heavy string score coming through as the lights flash before her eyes. This score and bright neon colors continue throughout the film, cutting beneath the constant onslaught of music and social media noise she consumes. These moments seem to offer her a reprieve from the stress of waiting on a call from the casting director and trying to look better than her friends.
Even though she and her friends don't necessarily have the cash to go to clubs and buy the things they'd like, it doesn't stop them from trying. Whether through negotiating or straight-up theft, they find themselves getting into trouble at every turn. Their incessant need to give off the high-dollar lifestyle is almost insufferable at times, but that's also just the folly of youth. Chasing what they think they need to be successful instead of building a solid foundation for themselves.
Riedinger's script and direction hit at something unique to this age bracket, something that many coming-of-age films miss. We see Liane's angst, that's for sure, but she also shows a more caring side, especially when it comes to her younger sister. Their mother is depicted as a lazy tyrant, unemployed and sleeping around with 'sugar daddies' to help pay the bills. Liane stands up to her, often at the defense of her sister (as well as her own freedom), which adds nuance to a character that could have been more one-note.
We also see a softer side of Liane when she encounters Dino (Idir Azougli), a young man who works at a dirtbike shop in her small town. As she continues to wait for an answer regarding the reality show, she diverts her attention to Dino at first as a distraction, but soon as a real love interest. He sees through her makeup and dazzling clothes to the real beauty she holds.
Wild Diamond is a strong debut for Agathe Riedinger, which attacks a newer and somehow modern, potent angle at gaining fame: becoming an influencer. Not everything comes together perfectly, but the sum of its parts is ultimately effective. Khebizi's performance is certainly a standout, offering the angst we expect from a young woman like Liane but also bringing depth and nuance to her character.
Wild Diamond is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Strand Releasing.
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