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The Coolangatta Gold

Name: The Coolangatta Gold
Director: Igor Auzins
Released: 1984
Duration: 113 min

Representation Score

1.1/10

Minimal

1984

PG-13

Director

Igor Auzins

Runtime

113 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Coolangatta Gold is a period drama that prioritizes historical authenticity over contemporary social critiques. It tells a traditional story of human endeavor, focusing on the physical challenges of the Australian frontier. The film upholds conventional hierarchies of gender and race consistent with its 1890s setting. The central conflict revolves around men's control over the story and patriarchal pressures regarding legacy and glory. Since the story emphasizes athletic endurance and colonial demographics, it does not aim to disrupt traditional clichés or include diverse perspectives.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Coolangatta Gold have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on traditional masculine endurance and social structures that assume everyone is straight. It does not include narratives that challenge these norms or represent non-traditional gender identities.

How does The Coolangatta Gold portray gender?

Limited

The story emphasizes masculine physical struggle and competition. Female characters play traditional roles that align with the social expectations of the 1890s, reinforcing gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Coolangatta Gold?

Limited

The cast mainly features Anglo-Saxon settlers and prospectors in colonial Queensland. The film does not highlight underrepresented voices or use diverse casting to challenge the colonial status quo.

How does The Coolangatta Gold represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story explores themes of greed and survival in the harsh Australian landscape. It portrays the frontier through a survivalist lens without critiquing Western institutions.

Does The Coolangatta Gold include disability representation?

Minimal

The narrative emphasizes physical peak performance and athletic endurance. There is no depiction of visible or invisible disabilities in the story.

Present on Screen

The film maintains a strong sense of historical realism regarding the 1890s Australian frontier.
It offers a focused exploration of human endurance and the physical struggle against a rugged landscape.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional gender perspectives.
Gender roles are confined to traditional hierarchies that reinforce period-specific social expectations.
The casting and character dynamics primarily center on Anglo-Saxon settlers, limiting racial diversity.

Official Synopsis

Steve Lucas is a nineteen year old who is filled with the burning resentment of being forced to live in his brother's shadow. His brother Adam, is burdened by his father's desire for glory, and must win The Coolangatta Gold Tri-Aquathon, It is the greatest endurance test of them all: a marathon involving a 20 kilometer beach run, 6 kilometer swim and a 17 kilometer surf ski from Surfers Paradise along the golden arc of beach to Coolangatta and back to the start. The Coolangatta Gold is a story of human endeavor and endurance against overwhelming odds.

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