Guldkysten

'Guldkysten' exposes the viewer to life at a Danish fort on West Africa's Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1836, focusing on a young Danish officer who goes out to start a coffee plantation as an alternative to taking slaves. The slave trade had officially stopped but was covertly continuing, which he discovers during his stay. The film then focuses on his reaction to that, and how those around him respond in turn.

The plot is vaguely based on the life of a real person, but was poorly received by some critics for mixing a historical character with a lot of fiction. This was apparently because the main female character became ill during filming, and so the plot had to be radically altered.

I personally think the result is a sensual masterpiece in creating the powerful and conflicting emotions you would have had if you had been on the Gold Coast in 1836 – the elegance of the early 19th Century costumes contrasting with the utter depravity of many of those living on the fort; the beauty of West Africa's landscape and nature against the spectre of disease that killed so many who dared to visit; and of course the conflict between the ideals of Christianity and the Enlightenment against the base exploitation of slavery.

One of the most visually spectacular and haunting films I have ever seen. I have only given 9 stars because I thought Wulff's descent into madness was over-exaggerated. He could have become very withdrawn instead, which I think would have been more realistic.

All in all, a much needed film to bring home to today's audience an experience of one of the darker sides of Denmark's past.

I had the pleasure of seeing this movie at the Scandinavian Film Festival in Melbourne and was not disappointed.

As other reviewers have noted, it is a beautiful production; the setting and cinematography are glorious.

I won't waste time with plot (I was engrossed in it), as it has been covered, I would like to add my voice to balance out some negative points raised by others.

The music, a deeply sombre, melancholic, electronic score is a striking juxtaposition to the colonial African setting. It is so out of place that is absolutely works. There is a particular scene at a tribal party. It is disorienting both for the characters and the viewer, however the (oft-times used in a disorienting fashion) authentic, rhythmic tribal music is replaced with the frenzied electronic score. It is fantastic film-making.

The film is well, albeit slowly, paced. Some scenes do outstay their welcome, particularly the prison scenes on, but this film reaches an aching crescendo that is totally rewarding.

It is, at times, gory, explicit, disgusting, and real, but that is true to form for the brutal time and place in which it is set.

It offers a rich symbolism, and spiritual side as well, via the character's dream-like progression through the film. It is utterly fascinating.

The acting is first rate.

The direction, music and ethereal nature of the film reminds me somewhat of Nicolas Winding Refn's work, particularly Drive and Only God Forgives. Which a touch of Donnie Darko's existential spiritualism. But still it's own thing, completely.

It is absolutely not for everyone, but I was completely taken with it.

I saw this film yesterday with my family. It was s-l-o-w, boring for about 90% of the time, largely pointless and way too long. On top of this, my entire family agreed with me that there is more than one plot hole which really topped it all off. Disappointing to say the least! Oh yeah, and the music is the most inappropriate I have ever experienced. It is so totally out of touch with the film and the age of slavery - some strange pounding techno. At times it goes into much more soothing and pleasant style, which I really likes, but I totally stopped concentrating on the film at least 5 times, because I was wondering what the hell that style of music was doing in that scene?!

The only good thing I can say about it is that it's really really beautiful and it makes an effort to show the geography and nature of Africa. Jakob Oftebro is a terrific actor but he can't save this film.

I was actually surprised I only fell asleep once, and after the film I was relieved to find out that mom, dad and brother felt the exact same way. This film is slow, boring and totally without a flow. Several of the characters are really poorly worked through and very unimpressive. On top of all this, there was plenty of that pointless thing I really hate: hand held camera! 98% of the footage is shaky because it is not filmed on a tripod or steady-cam, and I just absolutely abhor it!! I see no excuse for all that shaky footage when it doesn't seem to serve any purpose - here it is being used through even the most peaceful and tranquil scenes, so it is obviously just there to make the director appear more intellectual. Failing miserably, I must add.

I highly recommend giving this one a miss. It's the poorest film I have seen in years.

The movie does not have great resources and not even excellent actors but it is made following the cruel and inhuman reality of what has been the history in certain unfortunate places and there is always the usual story of evil black and white men going against justice and law for personal enrichment.

The scenography of Ghana is very beautiful because nature is very beautiful and man is the one who destroys it.

Set in Danish Guinea (part of modern-day Ghana) in the 1830s, 'Gold Coast' follows idealistic Wulff Frederik Wulff (who according to the film's website is an amalgamation of three real-life individuals). Having devised a method for growing coffee in Africa, Wulff is despatched from Denmark to put his plan into action. Upon arrival, he finds a colony that apparently consists of precisely five people: two missionaries (or "lunatic missionaries", as Wulff puts it), the drink-sodden governor, the governor's slimy deputy and a boorish merchant. Although he finds joy in the region's natural splendour, Wulff's enthusiasm and naïvety is gradually worn down by the antics of the colonists, by his own doubts that the native peoples understand his agricultural methods, by attacks on his plantations by the local Ashanti tribe, and by a slave trade he thought his country had outlawed.

This is not a flawless film. What I assume is a small budget shows: surely there were more than just a few people in Danish Guinea? A bigger budget might have paid for a few more extras! Also, apart from Wulff himself, the other characters - some of whom, such as the governor and his deputy, were real people - are portrayed in one-dimensional terms which suggest lazy scripting.

However, those flaws aside, this is a good film. Seeing the grubby colonial buildings and slightly tatty costumes the viewer really gets an impression of a colony on its uppers (barely a decade after the events in this film, Denmark sold its Gold Coast settlements to the UK). As Wulff, lead actor Jakob Oftebro - hitherto mainly a pretty face in supporting casts - proves his acting chops, not only with an alarming weight loss but also with his portrayal of Wulff's realisation that everything in the garden isn't rosy and his subsequent descent into madness. Other actors are hampered by the limited character development in their roles, but don't let that put you off seeing this film.