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December 2006
BLOOD DIAMOND
An Interview with Djimon Hounsou

BLOOD DIAMOND
An Interview with Djimon Hounsou
By Wilson Morales

December 4, 2006

There aren’t that many supporting players out in Hollywood that give such strong performances like Djimon Hounsou. Folks may think he plays the same part over and over being that most of the parts deals with his character being from Africa but it’s to his credit that Hounsou is able to bring something different to the role. From “Amistad” to “Gladiator” to “In America”, just those three films alone stand out to many. And when he does small bits like in “Biker Boyz”, “Beauty Shops”, and “The Island”, it’s because he wants to play something different but still make an impact. In his latest film, “Blood Diamond”, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Hounsou plays a man whose discovery is the center of attention in the diamond world and his family’s lives are all put in jeopardy. In speaking with blackfilm.com, Hounsou talks about his role in the film, and going home to Africa, and the issues around the country that doesn't get discussed.

Can you talk to me about the character you play?

Djimon Hounsou: Well, I play a patient man whose is caught in the conflict, who eventually teams up with a diamond smuggler played by (Leonardo) DiCaprio as I was caught in the conflict, I was in prison when I found a big stone and I used it to trade for my family, to get my family back. I lost my family during that family and one of my sons lost to me, taken also as a prisoner.



What led you to take this role?

DH: One, it’s a very powerful story. It’s a human story that came across out of Africa. I’m African and I still go back there every year, there’s a lot of conflict that we hear and don’t hear all the time. It was also a profound story because it brings out the issues that’s going around the country. Issues regarding refugees and the level of corruption throughout the continent. Those are the reasons why I was compelled to do this.


How was going back to Africa, now that you have a career in the States?

DH: Well, it good. Again, I go back to Africa specifically and only for my family, so I don’t go to Africa as a star. I have yet to go Africa as a movie star. Either I go there to do some humanitarian work or just to see my family.


Can you talk about the social message of the film against the Hollywood entertainment message?

DH: It deals with the issues of diamonds. Many people, including me, didn’t have an understanding on how diamonds were traded so if anything, it increases awareness to the situation on the diamond industry and trading with Africa. I, still to this day, am trying to figure whether any company that trade diamonds have monopolize the business. How is that those companies go to x amount of countries of Africa and conduct business but you could never see the benefit from those African companies. How do you have in business so much money and how is it that you go to those countries, you see you left it more deprived than they were in the first place. My thing is to bring awareness so that we the consumers can know what’s going on and know that when we go and buy diamond, we are contributing to this nonsense. This is certainly not telling people not to go buy diamonds. I, like most people, love diamonds. We all do, but again, at the end of the day, I certainly don’t want the blood of millions of people in Africa to buy it for a friend, wife, or girlfriend.


How do you find the story and the self sacrifice he makes?

DH: The way I look at it, one man can change the course of history. In our story, the change of heart of the character Archer played by DiCaprio. He’s the reason why I was able to find my family and bring this story to the western world. One man can instifate and do a lot in the outcome of a conflict.


How was it with Leo (DiCaprio)?

DH: Amazing! Truly. You couldn’t possibly have made this film if you didn’t have a guy, a man, an actor, a co-star who had a clear understanding and compassion for the conflict.


What did you learn from (Director) Ed Zwick?

DH: I learned that first of all as a director, he needs to tell the story and in telling a story you have to be able to listen to others and this is what I respect about him; his understanding of this story and how he was able to open his own ego and leave it at home and come in and be educated as he is trying to tell this story, as well as educating others at the same time. He’s a great storyteller.


After doing this film, what did you walk away with?

DH: Anything you gain from accomplishing something sometimes it takes you a long time before you find out what you’ve gained from it. If anything, it opened my eyes about the issues and several other issues about Africa and hopefully for others, it equally opened their eyes what is so conflicting about Africa.


You also have another film coming out later this year, Eragon. What’s your role in that film?

DH: Well, I play a cameo and my character is a leader of the army, the good guys who are trying to save this dragon so that the king doesn’t ravish the whole country. It was a lot of fun. I’ve always loved dragon and I think it’s a great thing for kids as well.


What’s next after Eragon?

DH: To be honest, I don’t know yet. I haven’t signed anything, but I’m also producing other stories that I’m trying to tell regarding other issues. So I’m working on developing other projects as well.


Why should anyone see “Blood Diamond”?

DH: It we, citizens of this world, care about anything and if we care about each other, then we should see this film and then do what is right. It’s also an education for some of us to know about the trade of diamonds. If we like to wear diamonds, then we should learn where they come from.


BLOOD DIAMOND opens on December 8, 2006

 

 

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