DIAMONDS SKULLS/DARK OBSESSION

UK, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
Gabriel Byrne, Amanda Donohoe, Struan Rodger, Douglas Hodge, Michael Hordern, Ian Carmichael, Judy Parfitt,, Sadie Frost.
Directed by Nick Broomfield.



A British crime thriller that is more of a searing attack on the aristocracy and class distinctions than thriller. The focus is on the cover-up of a hit run accident where the reputation of Lord Hugo, the driver, is of more importance than all else. He is an obsessively jealous husband, with a protective mother and manipulating broker boss.

Gabriel Byrne is effective as the more and more unlikeable hero Hugo. Amanda Donohoe elicits some sympathy as his wife. The rest of the upper crust… Who could like them.

Studied drama of corrupt Britons by documentary maker Nick Broomfield.

1. The title? The attitude towards wealth, death? The alternate title, The dark obsession?

2. The British settings, characters, homes, wealth, business, police investigations? The musical score?

3. The work of the director, a fiction, and his career interest in documentaries?

4. The character of Hugo, his status, the influence of his parents, the domination of his mother, the aristocratic background, his business interests, his partner, belonging to the regiment, his friends?

5. The marriage to Ginny, their son, the tensions in the marriage, his jealousy, his wild imagination about Ginny and infidelity? His spying on her?

6. The night drinking, the regiment friends, his running over the woman, her death – and his imagining her resemblance to Ginny? The consequences?

7. The responses, Hugo and his behaviour, the friends urging him to drive on? Peter, partner, mixed motivations, power, the estate? The contrast with Jamie, with Hugo’s sister, wanting to go to the police?

8. The decision, driving on, the police investigation, the members of the family, the decisions, saving the family’s reputation?

9. Jamie, wanting to go to the police, Peter and Hugo making him the victim, killing him, as if suicide, and as if responsible for the accident?

10. Hugo, going free – and his future?

11. The perceptions of the wealthy class in the UK, satirical aspects, cynical aspects?