There’s a gold rush in Mongolia, and much like the North American gold rushes at the turn of the 20th century, it has become a capitalist free-for-all where concern for the individual or the environment takes a backseat to the profit margin. Foreign corporations have mined the Mongolian land, but now close to 10,000 rogue Mongolian nomads, known as Ninjas, have begun prospecting for the leftovers. Small independent crews, without the aid of modern technology or equipment, risk their lives digging for a small piece of the action. It’s their land, after all, and they want in on the profit. Price of Gold follows a crew of brave and desperate Ninjas on their illegal digs in the Gobi desert. Stunning cinematography illustrates the vast landscape and claustrophobic conditions of the DIY mines navigated by the determination, ingenuity and utter insanity of this remarkable crew. –Lynne Crocker (HotDocs 2012)
Price of Gold will be screened on Thursday, February 28 at 7:30pm in Richmond Cultural Centre (7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond). Languages spoken in the movie are German and Mongolian with English subtitles provided. Admission is FREE.
Asia, Mongolia, Gobi Desert, Southgobi, illegal gold mines. Rural prospectors mostly with nomadic background locally called “ninjas”. Dust from gold-mills where the gold-bearing rock is crushed to dust. 9/2010; (C) 2011 Sven Zellner / Agentur Focus.