The first of four female-directed films competing for the Palme d’Or this year, Wild Diamond portrays hyperfemininity and hypersexualization as a weapon—often flawed—for girls with no prospects. Whether in the South of France (like the protagonist), Brazil, or India, their struggles are universal.
Liane’s pain starts at home. Her mother, Sabine (Andréa Bescond), barely pays attention to her or her younger sister, Alicia (Ashley Romano). The only way to be seen—maybe even admired—by her mother and a society that sidelines her is to bet everything on her looks. She wears painful high heels and undergoes plastic surgeries and cosmetic procedures she can’t actually afford.
Her dream, like so many who audition for Big Brother, is to land a reality TV show, earn enough money to change her life, and become famous.
Teenhood and its contradictions
But Liane, despite her fiery, unpolished personality, hides a fragile young woman beneath the facade—emotionally immature and far from the sexy image she projects.
Malou Khebizi masterfully captures the character’s complexity, instantly landing on the list of potential Best Actress winners.
Agathe Riedinger makes a promising debut with Wild Diamond, avoiding preachiness to explore this contradictory teenager. The film reveals how, in a sexist world, the armor women build often turns against them.
