A person who deals with diamonds is missing. Detective Emily Eden (Melanie Griffith) is assigned to find him and missing diamonds. Not long into the story the missing person is found (DEAD). The victim is a member of a closed trusting society. This leads the detective to draw the conclusion that it had to be the unthinkable; "an inside job" by someone(s) trusted. The solution is to go undercover and wait for an opportunity to identify the perpetrator(s).

The detective story is the veneer of the movie however it is integral enough to include Emily's background friends and past environment. This fleshes out Emily's character and the choices she made in life.

The choice of Melanie Griffith as someone hardboiled and expounding the things she has scene is stretching it a bit. Also as with some one playing a kids role she acts more like a three year old. And occasionally the terrible two's. However by the end of the film we forget this and except the character. Most of the other actors fit their characters well. One problem I had was watching Leah (Mia Sara), I kept thinking of her in "Farris Bueller's Day Off" (1986)

The true or socially redeeming part of the story is the interaction and reaction of the people as they grow from knowing each other. We get a little cultural exchange and few universal incites, including the concept of one's soul mate which is found again in many philosophies.

Is the mystery solved?
Has Emily and/or others learned from the experience?

God counts the tears of women.

This film is the reason I purchased a Starlogic Multiregion
DVD Player;because I had to join the the large community
of "Region 1 Importers" to see it again

Ms Griffiths' laid-back portrayal of a bare armed, short-skirted
gentile "shikse" cop, who is not scared of a gun recoil or two
is excellent and so is the portrayal of Hassidic life;especially
the preparations for Shabbas( the Jewish sabbath ) and pays
accurate attention to the dietary laws of the Koshrut and female
modesty which SHE has to observe in order to blend in
A very enjoyable film;up there with "Working Girl";Tippy Hedron,
her Maw would be proud of her !