Rating: ****The David Vs Goliath trope is not a new one to documentaries. In many ways, it’s one of the most often told stories as an individual or small group struggle against a large, monolithic force, usually a corporation or government agency. In these movies, dastardly deeds are being done by the seemingly unstoppable bureaucratic force, but a small, dedicated group of resisters are (usually) able to turn the tables and make their world a better place. Sometimes the road is rocky and the enemy a little more sly than our heroes would like, but good guys win and bad guys lose. Mostly.
In the case of The Devil Operation, the “David” is a small group of farmers and activists in Peru are the thorn in the side of Newmont, a U.S. mining company. At the base of Newmont’s largest mining operation in South America, the people are protesting the laissez-faire manner in which the company is getting the gold. In complete indifference to the environment, farm land and the health and safety of the indigenous people, Newmont’s all about the bling-bling. But the protestors enjoy success, though granted it’s through both violent and non-violent action. But what does the company do when it’s fed up?
Well, if you’re Newmont, you mount a massive, Mission: Impossible-like operation to spy on and just generally harass those that are fighting against the mine operation. Father Marco Arana, a man so renowned for this dedication to eco-activism that he was named a Hero of the Environment in 2009 by TIME Magazine, leads the more diplomatic wing of the protest, and for his effort, he is given a highly provocative name by Newmont’s spies: “The Devil”. From lawyers to the simple farmers that just want to protect their lands, each of them is treated as if their part of an organized crime operation with Newmont’s P.I.s acting like pit bull F.B.I.
Director Stephanie Boyd followed Father Marco and the other protestors for 10 years (but not in the way that Newmont was following them). Like some kind of thriller in the vain of The Firm or North By Northeast, Boyd collects stories from the people fighting the mine and learns about the harassment and scare tactics used against them by Newmont. In a mixture of astounding disbelief and hypnotic attentiveness, you watch some of the most obsessive acts of greed ever put to film. Even Scrooge McDuck would look at this mess and shake his head in disgust. I’ve spent a lot of time with community activists, many of them are good natured people that care deeply about the issues they’re passionate about, and trying to imagine people dumping this kind of time, effort and energy into dissuading them does nothing but boggle the mind.
Still, there was something extremely affirming about seeing these people persevere in the face of such staunch and all-encompassing opposition. Newmont is an ideal villain because their tactics are so distasteful and their goals – digging all the gold out of a mountain – are less than altruistic. Boyd marvellously captures the tension and suspense thanks to remarkable access and a fearlessness in pursuit of the story. This is documentary filmmaking at some of its finest: competently made with style and precision and with a direct narrative point of view. Compelling and engaging, The Devil Operation shows that the little people still have power no matter what’s thrown at them.
