Categories: cinema
Date: 29 September 2006 12:45:28
Byambasuren Davaa, the grand-daughter of nomads from the Mongolian Steppes, returns to Mongolia for her latest film The Cave of the Yellow Dog (Die Höhle des gelben Hundes). The title of the movie is taken from a Mongolian fable, which is told during the movie. Davaa also directed The Story of the Weeping Camel, also set in the plains of Mongolia, which I saw earlier this year when staying with shipmates in Brisbane. I, through seeing other foreign moviesand being on associated mailing lists, managed to get a free ticket for a preview session at Dendy Opera Quays.
Being near the Opera House, I saw the forecourt -- already full by the time I got there (18:30): and gates had only opened at 18:00! -- for the free live simulcast from the Opera House out on to a big screen on the Forecourt. Lucky people!
While The Story of the Weeping Camel was a full documentary, with the crew being extremely unobtrusive, a story was written for The Cave of the Yellow Dog and the actors were no doubt coached. However, it is still a beautiful, beautiful film. The Mongolian landscape is sheer beauty in itself. The characters are wonderful, so wonderful, and you instantly feel an affinity for them: and are truly drawn into this story and the life of the family. You even get to see how a yurt is taken down when the family moves when summer arrives.
Well recommended. A truly beautiful film, in many ways.