Every year hundreds of impoverished teens from Africa are lured to Europe by unscrupulous scouts with promises of fame, fortune and playing for a premier league football team. Their families pay money they can ill afford to help send them on their way, but the price that these kids pay is sometimes higher. But more often than not their dreams turn to dust and they are abandoned to the mean streets of European capitals. Some return home in disgrace and shame, others turn to a life of petty crime and drugs to support themselves. This grim and downbeat drama from Spanish director Miguel Alcantud follows two teens from Mali who dream of playing professional football in Europe. But while they may be good players on a dirt pitch in their small village, playing with elite stars of the sport in Europe is another thing. Black Diamonds has been inspired a true scandalous practice which is akin to modern day slavery and it is enough to make you angry about the callous and soul destroying practice. The two young nonprofessional actors who play the naive and optimistic central characters are good and deliver natural performances.
Review of Diamantes negros
