Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
Located atop an eroded volcanic crater, the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas is the world’s only diamond-bearing site open to the public. There, on a 37-acre plowed field, hobbyists dig for – and sometimes even find, at a rate of two discoveries a day – the precious gemstones. Via gorgeous cinematography and a poignant score, the short documentary The Diamond immerses viewers in the park, introducing them to the regulars who find satisfaction and relief in the pastime. Sharing in the delicate, persistent patience of her subjects, the US filmmaker Caitlyn Greene builds something quite dazzling herself as she slowly unearths stories of trauma, struggle and love among the searchers.
Director: Caitlyn Greene
video
Stories and literature
Robert Frost’s poetic reflection on youth, as read in his unforgettable baritone
5 minutes
video
Sex and sexuality
After a sextortion scam, Eugene conducts an unblushing survey of masturbation
14 minutes
video
Film and visual culture
‘Bags here are rarely innocent’ – how filmmakers work around censorship in Iran
8 minutes
video
Language and linguistics
Closed captions suck. Here’s one artist’s inventive project to make them better
8 minutes
video
Architecture
The celebrated architect who took inspiration from sitting, waiting and contemplating
29 minutes
video
Anthropology
Why are witchcraft accusations so common across human societies?
4 minutes
video
Subcultures
Drop into London’s eclectic skate scene, where newbies and old-timers find community
5 minutes
video
Technology and the self
A deepfake porn victim confronts the pain of having her likeness stolen and vandalised
19 minutes
video
Wellbeing
Born in China, Zee seeks a gender-affirming life in the American Midwest
11 minutes