The Lucky Diamond: A Charming, Dusty Little Find

Is it worth the time?

If you have a soft spot for old-school European comedies that don't try to reinvent the wheel, sure, put it on. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it moves at the speed of a leisurely Sunday afternoon stroll.

If you need high stakes, modern pacing, or anything that doesn't feel like it was filmed in a velvet-lined jewelry box, you'll probably hate this. It’s very old-fashioned, even for its time.

Elsa Merlini is the anchor here, and she’s got this way of looking at a camera that feels like she’s sharing a secret with you. When that diamond shows up, the movie changes gears from a quiet character study into something a bit more frantic.

Vittorio De Sica is, well, Vittorio De Sica. He has that classic charm that makes you wonder why everyone in the movie isn't just following him around. He’s effortlessly cool, even when the plot gets a bit messy.

Odd little moments

• There’s a scene in a flower shop that lingers about two minutes too long, just watching people move vases around. It’s weirdly hypnotic.
• The lighting in the second act makes everyone look like they’re glowing from the inside out, which is probably accidental but looks great.
• The supporting cast has a habit of popping in and out of frame like they’re waiting for a bus.

It’s funny how this feels almost like a cousin to So's Your Old Man in terms of its lighthearted approach to bad luck turning into good luck. There’s a similar spirit of "things happen, let's just go with it" that I find strangely relaxing.

The dialogue is snappy enough that you don't really notice the plot holes. And trust me, there are plenty of holes.

Sometimes the film feels like it’s trying to be a serious drama, then suddenly someone trips over a rug or a vase breaks, and the whole tone shifts to slapstick. It’s not graceful, but it’s honest. I prefer that over something perfectly polished.

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. It's just a nice little movie that exists. Sometimes that’s enough, right? 🌸

If you’ve seen Mistigri, you might recognize that same sense of yearning for something just out of reach. Here, it’s a diamond. There, it was something else entirely. Both are just excuses for people to talk to each other in nice clothes.