I just finished watching the third of a series of African-themed films, all of which deserve watching (if you can stomach the sex, violence, drug references, and language). They all have very strong plots (in my opinion), set with the social, political and economic situation in the world as a backdrop at varying depths.
"Blood Diamond" is about the way in which diamonds, sold to the developed world, are used to fund conflict in the developing world. Leonardo di Caprio plays a Zimbabwean mercenary in a role very different from his rather androgenous ones in "Titanic" and "Romeo and Juliet".
"The Constant Gardener" is a love story set against the backdrop of a drug company seeking to defend its indifference of the welfare of people in the developing world as it carries out drug trials. Ralph Fiennes is the diplomat who falls for the politically enlightened Tessa, Rachel Weisz.
"Lord of War", based on real events, features Nicholas Cage as a freelance arms trader, seeming to be above the law, but ultimately living in his own personal hell.
All are excellent, and all use the medium of film to draw attention to some of the ways in which we in the developed world are abusing Africa.
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