Guiana 1838

The film follows the story of Gillanders, Arbuthnot & Company, which recruits Coolies from India to address labor shortages in the British Caribbean after the abolition of slavery in 1834. Sinha, a small-time hustler, is tasked with selling the hope of prosperity in El Dorado to these impoverished individuals who are then signed to five-year contracts as indentured servants.

Upon their arrival in British Guiana in 1838, these Coolies face a grim reality as British planters exploit them under conditions that mirror slavery. The narrative intensifies with the arrival of John Scoble from the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, who uncovers the harsh truths of this new form of servitude imposed on the Indian laborers. The film provides a poignant exploration of exploitation and resilience in a challenging historical context.