Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Danish journalist Mads Brügger goes undercover as a Liberian Ambassador to embark on a dangerous yet hysterical journey to uncover the blood diamond trade in Africa.
Mads Brügger's gonzo undercover documentary is a genuinely singular piece of work — a genre-bending hybrid of journalism, performance art, and dark comedy that exposes the blood diamond trade and the corruption of diplomatic accreditation with audacious, first-person immersion. The conceit is brilliantly original and the unfolding revelations are gripping, earning high marks for plot and novelty. Cinematography is functional rather than inspired, constrained by the covert filming conditions. The ending, while honest, dissipates rather than resolves, leaving the viewer somewhat deflated given the escalating tension of the middle act.