Diamond In The Dirt

“You can’t help but lean in and really pay attention so as not to miss a thing…”

An insight into the mind of the Camden Caretaker, journeyman, Robbie Chapman. A unique character in the sport of boxing, once known as a prospect, now known as the best looking journeyman in England.

The appropriately named ‘Diamond in the Dirt’ is a hard hitting and impactful watch that introduces us to "The Camden Caretaker" Robbie Chapman. It’s a high octane fuelled film that is made with precision and raw creativity from directors Hussain Mohamed Hassan and Sean Kardar that explore a unique world that most of us have never seen before.

From the first 10 seconds in, it was clear we were in for a treat. The cutting and cinematography jumps out and immediately grabs your attention. This style of editing is not something you can simply pick up, it’s unique and shows great attention to detail and awareness of the source material. It’s worth noting that Hussain Mohamed Hassan took on the editing while Sean Kardar handled the cinematography, creating a perfect duo to capture this story. It’s evident in the film that these two work well together and should continue to do so considering the results.

The film has a distinct style and tone to it, feeling more like something you’d expect from a British gangster film from the 90s. It gives it plenty of character and stands out in a way that’s daring and bold. Other filmmakers may have gone the safe route and shoot this like a typical documentary, but not here. The use of fast cuts and elaborate sound design really keeps you on your toes and covers a lot in the short run time. Although, we wouldn’t expect this film to be better by adding more time to it. The story is great as it is and could become disorientating if made longer for the sake of it. The filmmakers got it just right!

The narrative is delivered exceptionally well and feels like we’re hearing the inner thoughts of Chapman as opposed to a sit down interview. This creates an intimate connection between the audience and Chapman that really captures his story. You can’t help but lean in and really pay attention so as not to miss a thing. We also loved the voicemail messages scattered throughout adding another finer detail by the filmmakers, showing real passion for the story and ability in filmmaking.

The gritty, textured and artistic colour grade is something worth noting here as it really adds a lot to the film, ideal for the bug screen. The sound design is a big part of the film and is one of the more intricate mixes we’ve heard in a short film. The visuals are outstanding, Kardar really shows his expertise by capturing a range of dynamic scenes. The real fight sequences and set up shots are blended seamlessly. We can’t praise the editing and cinematography enough for this film, it’s superb.

If you have the opportunity to see this film, do it. If you don’t, then you need to find a way to make that happen! It’s a fantastic film that we just love and everyone involved should be incredibly proud of…

— APEX Film Awards