Set against the background of South Africa's emerald coast and diamond mines, Diamond Hunters traces the torrid fortunes of a family unable to forgive and forget. Johnny, a successful diamond hunter, gets sucked back into a family that had been his own, before the patriarch, Jacob Van der Byl, abandoned him 20 years ago. Painful memories of an unjust father and a long lost love come back to reality as Johnny is pitted against his own half-brother Benedict in a fight over two women, a diamond empire and ultimately, his very survival. Played out over two episodes, Diamond Hunters describes Johnny's thwarted attempts to win the approval of Jacob, and the under-hand schemes by which the inimical Benedict plans to defeat him. Tracey, Benedict's sister and Johnny's true love, further complicates the fraternal rivalry, as all attempt to overcome the demons that survive from their troubled childhood. Written by Anonymous
The current release of this film on DVD in America is missing 70 minutes from the full running time as a miniseries. This doesn't hurt the film all that much, but somehow I think it would have been better longer.
The plot concerns the return of an adopted son back to his mining family and the trouble his being given the reigns of the company causes.
I liked this movie. Its was a good way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy day. The problem was that a couple of times there seemed to be something missing. The feeling didn't last long as I was too busy watching what was happening to think about it too much.
No, its not a great film, it a good one, a sort of guilty pleasure. There are flaws, the biggest being the worst performance I've ever seen Roy Scheider give, something I think was do primarily to his stupid attempt at an accent.
Worth a rental.
7 out of 10 in a guilty pleasure sort of way.