They Come for the Gold, They Come for It All (2009)

Run Time - 87 min.  |   Countries - Argentina, Chile  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Mark Deming

A community mired in poverty debates the wisdom of a plan that could create jobs while cutting short their own future in this documentary. Esquel is a village in Argentina where unemployment has reached fifty percent; with so many people out of work, seemingly any business willing to hire workers and spend money would be welcome. But the Canadian mining firm Meridian Gold discovers not everyone in Esquel is pleased that they're attempting to buy the mineral rights to five gold and silver mines in town. Previous mining operations have led to extreme pollution in Esquel, nearly ruining the town's water supply through the use of hazardous refining techniques, and many of the citizens are all too aware that the mining company does far better than the people left with a ruined landscape once they've left. But are there enough people in Esquel with the power to keep Meridian Gold out? And what happens in communities in similar circumstances? Directed by Cristian Harbaruk and Pablo D'Alo Abba, They Come For The Gold, They Come For It All was an official selection at the 2009 Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival.