THEY COME FOR THE GOLD
Price: $310.00 Code: 2385 |
Directed by Cristian Harbaruk and Pablo D'Alo Abba
2010, 68 Minutes
Purchase: $310 | Classroom Rental: $125
In 2002, the multinational mining company Meridian Gold arrived in Esquel, a small town in Argentina suffering from 40% unemployment. Meridian's operation could inject over $120 million into the local economy, but their methods raised serious health and environmental concerns.
A local story with global consequences, They Come for the Gold documents the conflict that erupted and polarized this town. One man interviewed in the film can barely hold back his tears as he talks about how polluted the water has become because of the mining. Like many here, he claims the gold and silver will do nothing more than sustain their oppression and hunger. He cites the numerous countries around the world, especially in Africa and Latin America, that find themselves rich in natural resources yet trapped in a cycle of poverty.
Proponents of the mining operation cite the jobs that will be created and the much-needed boost for the economy. "Who lives better," one man pointedly asks a woman collecting signatures to close the mine, "the rich or the poor?"
An absorbing, topical documentary, They Come for the Gold explores the burden and benefits of foreign mining.
* Winner, Best Documentary Latinoamericano Film Festival Trieste, 2010
* Winner, Best Movie, International Film Festival Gualeguaychu, 2010
* Winner, Best Film, FINCA Film Festival, 2010
* Winner, Best Feature, Ekotop Film Festival, 2010
* Official Selection, International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam, 2010
* Official Selection, Hot Docs, 2010
* Official Selection, Dok Fest Munich, 2010
* Official Selection, San Francisco Green Film Festival, 2011
"An insightful film about a situation where global politics, economics, and eco-activism meet, this is recommended." - Video Librarian
" Recommended for viewers interested in the negatives of mining and the possibilities of grassroots political action". Library Journal
2010, 68 Minutes
Purchase: $310 | Classroom Rental: $125
In 2002, the multinational mining company Meridian Gold arrived in Esquel, a small town in Argentina suffering from 40% unemployment. Meridian's operation could inject over $120 million into the local economy, but their methods raised serious health and environmental concerns.
A local story with global consequences, They Come for the Gold documents the conflict that erupted and polarized this town. One man interviewed in the film can barely hold back his tears as he talks about how polluted the water has become because of the mining. Like many here, he claims the gold and silver will do nothing more than sustain their oppression and hunger. He cites the numerous countries around the world, especially in Africa and Latin America, that find themselves rich in natural resources yet trapped in a cycle of poverty.
Proponents of the mining operation cite the jobs that will be created and the much-needed boost for the economy. "Who lives better," one man pointedly asks a woman collecting signatures to close the mine, "the rich or the poor?"
An absorbing, topical documentary, They Come for the Gold explores the burden and benefits of foreign mining.
Subjects & Collections
Festivals & Awards
* Winner, Best Documentary Ourense Indepentent Film Festival, 2010* Winner, Best Documentary Latinoamericano Film Festival Trieste, 2010
* Winner, Best Movie, International Film Festival Gualeguaychu, 2010
* Winner, Best Film, FINCA Film Festival, 2010
* Winner, Best Feature, Ekotop Film Festival, 2010
* Official Selection, International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam, 2010
* Official Selection, Hot Docs, 2010
* Official Selection, Dok Fest Munich, 2010
* Official Selection, San Francisco Green Film Festival, 2011
Reviews
“This story of political action by the citizens of Esquel is noteworthy and inspiring. Recommended for environmental studies and political science courses.” - Educational Media Reviews Online"An insightful film about a situation where global politics, economics, and eco-activism meet, this is recommended." - Video Librarian
" Recommended for viewers interested in the negatives of mining and the possibilities of grassroots political action". Library Journal