Reflection in a Dead Diamond
Plunging viewers into a bygone world of decadence and mystery, Reflection in a Dead Diamond (Reflet dans un diamant mort), the latest collaboration from Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, follows John Diman (Fabio Testi), an ageing former secret agent living out his retirement in a luxurious hotel in the south of France. His quiet life is disrupted when a mysterious black envelope arrives, threatening to pull him back into his past as a suave, James Bond-esque super-spy caught in a labyrinth of shifting personas and dangerous femme fatales.
While Diman’s character is clearly inspired by one of the earlier 007s, the film’s visual aesthetic draws heavily from the Euro-thrillers of the 60s. Directors Cattet and Forzani revel in excess at every turn. Diamonds glimmer on bare hands, while blood splashes across the screen in frenetic bursts, creating a visual palette that is initially mesmerising but soon slips into the realm of self-indulgence. What starts as a dazzling exercise in style gradually gives way to a feature that feels less like a cohesive narrative and more like an extended fashion spread or music video.
The story’s fragmented events – replete with time slips and secret identities – recalls the campy, unpredictable nature of golden-age comics, giving the film a distinctive narrative structure at the cost of coherence. However, in an era where movies often aim for a sense of gravity, its pulpy, experimental tone carves out a niche as a fascinating anomaly in an increasingly self-serious cinematic landscape.
Yannick Renier’s portrayal of the younger Diman is striking, with his strong brow and magnetic presence that recall the confidence and charisma of Sean Connery’s Bond. Though the visual excesses may prove to be overwhelming, Testi and Renier bring to life the essence of the legendary British agent – charming, dangerous, and always on the brink of a thrilling adventure – better than any spin-off or parody.
Reflection in a Dead Diamond will not resonate with all viewers, but its unapologetic embrace of style over substance is both visceral and subversive. Prioritising aesthetic intensity over traditional narrative, the film is a hypnotic experience for those drawn to cinematic excess and the unconventional.
Christina Yang
Reflection in a Dead Diamond (Reflet dans un diamant mort) does not have a release date yet.
Read more reviews from our Berlin Film Festival coverage here.
For further information about the event visit the Berlin Film Festival website here.
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