Ferzan Özpetek’s “Diamonds” is a stylish, heartfelt celebration of cinema, costume design, and female friendship. Blending humor, drama, and nostalgia, the film moves between present day and 1970s Rome, where two sisters (Luisa Ranieri and Jasmine Trinca) run a prestigious costume atelier responsible for creating elaborate outfits for a demanding historical film production.
The story is framed by Özpetek himself, playing a director gathering his favorite actresses to workshop a new film idea. That setup slowly melts into the main narrative, creating a clever overlap between reality and fiction as the actresses step into the lives of the women working inside the bustling Roman fashion house.
The film has a lovely warmth to it, packed with emotion, lively performances, and the feeling of a true ensemble piece with eighteen actresses bringing energy and personality to every scene. While the costumes and production design are gorgeous (seriously a feast for the eyes), the real focus is on the women themselves, and their friendships, tensions, ambitions, heartbreaks, and loyalty to one another.
Özpetek turns the atelier into a world of its own, full of noise, color, and creativity, while also paying tribute to the often overlooked artistry behind movie costumes. The result is a charming and thoroughly entertaining film that feels both glamorous and deeply human.
“Diamonds” is ultimately a love letter to filmmaking, sisterhood, and the invisible work that helps create movie magic.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 