The protagonists of the film live and work in Kyrgyzstan, a post-Soviet republic in Central Asia. The population is primarily Muslim and traditionally nomadic. After being part of the Soviet Union for most of the 20th century, the people suddenly find themselves in a new democratic state where they have the freedom to make their own decisions. The film is focused on four main protagonists whose lives are tied to a massive gold mine operated by the Canadian company Kumtor. Each character represents some part of the imperfect transition from communism to capitalism in the 21st century. The central character is a Kyrgyz truck driver named Nurbek - an ordinary man entangled in the complexities of the storyline. We meet the American boss, the head of the mining company who has come to Kyrgyzstan to check on the progress of the mine. Kerim, the spokesman for the company, handles public relations and has the power to fire workers. Baktigul is a doctor who struggles against the company and the pollution produced by its mining activities. Through subtle humor and cinematographic observation, the history and story unfold. As it becomes apparent throughout the film, adapting the mindset and habits of people to democracy is not an easy task. People’s lives under communism were dictated by the communist party. They were told how and what to think, and everything was controlled by the Party. Suddenly after the collapse of the USSR, people were forced to think for themselves. It could have been a great opportunity to build democracy in Kyrgyzstan, but old habits die hard and the people wait to receive and take orders from above. Can democracy prevail in such a fragile state of existence? All That Glitters exposes the unique imprint of the communist past in these workers and how they adjust to a capitalist system. In contrast, the film also explores the efforts of the Canadian company with its American president to change the communist mentality of the Kyrgyz people. Seeking to uncover the real situation, the film, in a sense, peels back the layers of the protagonists and delves into the intricacies of their lives on a personal and political level.