In the captivating debut feature, Wild Diamond, by filmmaker Agathe Riedinger, we are introduced to Liane, played by Malou Khebizi, a 19-year-old waitress from Fréjus who proclaims her ambition to become the French Kim Kardashian, hinting at a prophecy more than a mere wish. Her journey is characterized by a fierce obsession with beauty and fame, leading her to fully invest her hard-earned money in body modifications such as breast augmentation surgery and lip fillers, while aspiring for a Brazilian Butt Lift.
Captured on Instagram, her transformation intensifies her popularity, as her followers' compliments become her mantras. However, Liane's story belies the fraught dangers and drawbacks of the pursuit of internet fame and obsession with beauty standards. Wild Diamond premiered at Cannes as a sympathetic outlook towards the prevailing social media downtown, meticulously capturing Liane's upheavals and promises in her pursuit of fame.
Riedinger's storyline may resemble her previous short film, Waiting for Jupiter, yet her sophisticated narrative and stylistic blend of intimate character portrayal and critical commentary on influencer culture sets this feature apart. While the film's narrative could be stronger, it provides a deep, intricate look into the underbelly of beauty and mainstream culture through its protagonist's eyes.
Riedinger, working alongside Director of Photography Noé Bach, portrays Liane's journey with empathy and care, employing close-ups and dreamy visuals that mimic Liane's own commitment to her aspirations. Yet, this might lead to questions about the boundary between artistic appreciation and excessive fixation.
Liane's determination stems from her own life experience. She hustles in the backdrop of her troublesome relationship with her mother and threats of objectification, all while nurturing her dreams of fame. A stolen-goods seller by day and Instagram influencer by night, Liane's journey is marked by emotionally charged moments that tie together her desire for fame, class aspirations, and the glamorization of wealth, encapsulating the harsh reality of toxic influencer culture.
Liane's aspiration turns a new page as she gets a call from the Miracle Island reality show, pushing her further on the path of materialism that soon veers towards darker choices, especially after a fruitless audition. Liane's pursuit of beauty and fame, spiraling into desperation, forms the crux of the film.
Malou Khebizi's impactful portrayal of Liane prevents her character from becoming a trope. However, the secondary characters around her fall flat and seem to merely counterbalance Liane's beauty fixation with arguments about life's other pleasures.
In one intriguing scene, Liane presents herself as a messiah in her pursuit of fame as a form of revenge, suggesting an alternate perspective on the culture propelled by the digital age. A deeper delve into this notion could have offered the film an essential and unique edge in its social commentary.
