Actor Idris Elba takes audiences on a global journey about gold in a new documentary from the World Gold Council, Gold: A Story of Beauty, Power, and Transformation. Premiered on Oct. 5, the same day the WGC named Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE: SBSW; JSE: SSW) chief executive Neal Froneman as its new chair, the documentary supports the WGC’s mission to get a wider audience interested in the yellow metal.
Gold has faced competition from cryptocurrencies even as it retains its safe haven reputation.
From mining the depths of Agnico Eagle Mines’ (TSX: AEM; NYSE: AEM) La Ronde Complex in Quebec, to showcasing its essential role in modern-day technology and medicine, Elba makes the case for “the transformative power of gold” — not just as a metal, but “in its significance to human culture, tradition, and history,” he says in the film. The popular British actor, known for roles in films and shows like Luther and Beasts of No Nation, says filming the documentary opened his eyes to the deeper meanings and facets of gold.
Elba explores gold’s diverse cultural touchpoints, such as the traditional importance of gold wedding jewellery in India, and hip-hop artists who think showing off gold-gilded gems at London’s Hatton Garden is equally fashionable.
Elba also explores his heritage in Ghana, his mother’s homeland, a nation that gold built. He joins the grand Ashanti Akwasidae Festival, a vibrant celebration of gold’s significance to the kingdom’s prosperity.
In the Americas, the film tells the tale of San Francisco’s gold rush in 1848 that transformed the city; and the SS Central America wreckage, housing gold and the oldest known pair of Levi jeans, is also featured, highlighting an unexpected link between gold and the creation of one of the world’s most iconic jeans brands.
In South Africa, Elba unravels the country’s history interwoven with gold mining. He spotlights the technological leaps of Gold Fields’ (NYSE: GFI; JSE: GFI) South Deep, one of the world’s deepest profitable underground operations, emphasizing its move to automation that now welcomes more women and generates new job roles than in previous years.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the actor showcases Barrick Gold’s (TSX: ABX; NYSE: GOLD) Kibali mine’s renewable energy innovations and its role in uplifting the local economy. Elba then travels to New Zealand, witnessing firsthand the transformation of a former mine into a thriving ecosystem.
A particularly impactful segment covers malaria control initiatives in Ghana. Originally designed to protect mine workers, these efforts have expanded exponentially, now shielding over a million Ghanaians every year from the lethal disease.
The film also highlights gold’s critical roles in current technology and medicine, including its application in COVID-19 lateral flow tests and in pioneering space missions. Elba’s expedition reaches its zenith with a mesmerizing visit inside the gold-laden vaults of the Bank of England.
The movie has more than 2 million views on YouTube.
Visit journey.gold to watch the entire movie.
Too bad that “Gold’ is the title of the movie based on Bre-X