Nothing Last Forever

Documentary filmmaker Jason Kohn’s third film, Nothing Lasts Forever, asks the seemingly trivial question of what makes a diamond a diamond. To the fat cats at De Beers – one of the wealthiest and most powerful companies in the industry – a diamond is a romantic symbol of love that’s meant to be cherished forever. But to others, the precious gemstone isn’t so precious. It’s simply a particular kind of stone that can be manufactured for a fraction of the cost. These opposing ideas have created a strange back and forth within the diamond trade, one which Kohn explores in fascinating depth in his latest film, as it whisks audiences from India to China, Africa to America.

What begins as an intriguing exploration between “natural” and “synthetic” diamonds (or, more specifically, the absence of differences between them), soon descends into thriller territory. The further Kohn gets into the secretive industry, the more deceptive it becomes. Every revelation is immediately followed by another more outlandish one, which throws into question the public’s entire perception of what diamonds are. The whole thing is “a lie about a lie about a lie about a lie”, as one of the interviewees sardonically phrases it.

Through peeling back each of these layers, this feature effectively highlights the power of clever marketing that has caused society to firmly believe that these gems are one of the most important things in life, and all it takes is some fancy storytelling from an executive. The marketing spins and lengths the top players have gone to, to ensure that they remain rich are comical in their absurdity. Whereas one makes the case that a Botswanan mine has made the country wealthier than it’s ever been, an influential trader’s loving descriptions of the gem’s worth border on cartoonish sexism. But there’s also a darker side to this world, too. And though Kohn doesn’t dwell on these portions as much, their inclusion nevertheless adds an extra layer to this insane and mostly unknown world.

Although diamonds have become to represent the finer things in life, Kohn’s insightful investigation into this multi-million dollar business takes the sheen off the glamorous symbolism, as he unveils the peculiar goings-on behind the scenes.

Andrew Murray

Nothing Last Forever is released in select cinemas on 10^th February 2023 and is available on demand on 13^th February 2023.

Watch the trailer for Nothing Last Forever here: