Diamonds.TheftmarksDianaVishneva’sdebutincinemaandquitenaturallyfeaturesthejuxtapositionofdramaandballet.Diana’sroleinKhamdamov’sfilmpivotsonsomethingshehasbeenfamiliarwithsincechildhood–ballet. The35-year-oldaward-winningprimaplaysaballerinawhocommitsa“crimeofpassion”whenshestealsadiamondbroochandgivesitasapresenttoafellowdancer. OneofRussia’smostpoeticandunconventionalartists,thecreatorofAnnaKaramazoffstarringJeanneMoreau,Khamdamovwasquotedassayingthathisfilmisfirstandforemostaboutloveandkindness,ratherthanatrivial“crimeandpunishment”. ThestarofSleepingBeauty,GiselleandSwanLake,justtonameafew,theMariinsky’sdarlinghasinfactrevealedthat,apartfrombeinganoviceinfilm,shealsohadtotryanothercompletelynewroleinDiamonds.Theft–thatofachorusgirl,whichshesaidfeltquiteunusualfortheacclaimedleaddancer. RumorhasitthatVishnevawasactuallyofferedoneoftheleadrolesintheDarrenAronofsky’sBlackSwan,buteventuallypreferredRussianDiamonds.TheftoverAmericanmovie.
