Gold (Thomas Arslan, 2013)

If the mere idea of a German western seems as incongruous as the spaghetti variety, the scenario here actually makes perfect sense: the Germans are would-be prospectors struggling to cross Canada to make their fortunes. They have little idea of the challenge ahead and are largely unlikable in their self-interest. Gradually, one by one, they fall along the wayside. There is little heightened action, in its place strong period detail instead, and this is welcome, but there is also an emotional blankness at the core of the film which is not helped by an obvious fascination with the landscape leading to making each shot as sun-saturated and picturesque as possible, when involving the hostility of the elements would have supported the sense of hardship that the script is meant to convey.

5/10