Zac Efron is on his way to a compound where he has been promised some kind of employment. We don’t know much about the character Efron is playing but it’s clear from the state of his appearance that his life hasn’t been an easy one. We don’t know his name – he is listed as Man One – and we don’t quite know where he has travelled from after we first meet him on the back of a train.
As they drive, the driver tells him about his life and how he got to this place. He tells the story of how he was born in a small town in Mexico and how he moved to the desert to work as a shepherd. He also tells the story of how he met the man who will take him to the compound, and how they became friends. The driver is nervous but excited about his upcoming journey, and he seems like a very good friend to the man who will be taking him there.
The men’s road trip is halted when their car breaks down in the middle of the desert highway. This is far from ideal as the temperature is sweltering hot and there doesn’t seem to be a water hole for miles. Not that these inconveniences bother them for long, however, as they soon spot something glittering in the sand. It’s a huge chunk of gold but as much of it is buried within the ground, the men are in a bit of a dilemma. ..
After a brief discussion, it is agreed that Man One should stay behind with the prize while Man Two journeys to get an excavator. Before he leaves, Man Two warns Man One to stay on his guard against anybody who might arrive to steal the gold. He also warns him of another threat – the desolation and loneliness that could make Man One lose his mind if he doesn’t take steps to keep himself sane.
After giving these warnings, Man Two heads out in his now-repaired vehicle, leaving Man One alone with nothing but wild dogs, a scorpion, and his own frazzled thoughts to keep him company.
In this movie, Efron’s good looks are gone. He is dirty, unshaven, and battle-scarred by whatever war happened outside of this movie’s narrative. As his character sits and waits for his travelling companion, his face also becomes blistered because of the sheer heat of the sun. The actor gives a strong performance as the man who mentally unravels and while we don’t know much about him, it is easy to feel sympathy for the stranded character.
A woman appears in the desert, following a man. She talks constantly, and gradually makes him lose his bearings and his mind. After dealing with her, he has to deal with the threat of a snake, a merciless sandstorm, and the possibility that Man Two might not come back for him. ..
In a movie that is all about one man’s fight to survive on Mars, it would be irresponsible to reveal too much about the story’s protagonist. I recommend watching the film for yourself, as it is an excellent piece of cinema. The story follows Matt Damon as he struggles against the odds on Mars, and it is a parable about greed and what a man will do to hold onto his treasure, despite the odds that are stacked against him.
The desert landscape is suitably dry and desolate, riddled with flies and pieces of wreckage that are the remnants of the war that has seemingly turned the earth into some kind of apocalyptic wasteland. The direction and photography perfectly capture the sense of isolation that Man One feels as he struggles to survive alone in the sand-filled wilderness and they draw us into the character’s plight as we start to become as lost and confused as he does.
Gold is a movie about gold. It’s about the things that go into making it, the people who have to work to get it, and the places where it’s found. But even if you don’t care about those things, there’s still something special going on in Gold. The film’s setting is beautiful but its story is dark and harrowing, and its characters are compelling enough that you’ll want to see what happens to them.
