A new documentary about Denmark's exploitation of a Greenland cryolite mine has ignited a fierce debate about colonial legacy, coinciding with Donald Trump's threats to acquire the Arctic territory. The film, Grønlands hvide guld (Greenland's White Gold), aired on Danish broadcaster DR in February, revealing that Denmark earned at least 400 billion kroner (£46bn) from the mine over 133 years.
In Greenland, the documentary stirred anger and sadness, with more than a third of voters in an election poll saying it would influence their vote. Greenland's then-prime minister, Múte B Egede, cited the figure as evidence that the territory has been financially exploited. However, the reaction in Denmark was polarised, with initial positive reviews quickly turning into a 'shit storm' after an economist questioned the documentary's calculations.
Economics professor Torben M Andersen, who appeared in the film, cautioned that the 400 billion kroner figure referred to turnover, not profit, as production costs were incurred in Denmark. Despite DR initially defending the documentary, it eventually depublished it and its news editor-in-chief resigned, citing inaccuracies in a graph. Producer Michael Bévort called the move political, while media analyst Rune Lykkeberg said it was about protecting DR's brand.
The documentary has forced Danes to confront their colonial heritage, with some seeing it as a potential shift in the power dynamic between Denmark and Greenland, which remains part of the Danish kingdom with Denmark controlling its foreign and defence policies.
