Movie Description
Effortlessly blending drama, nature documentary, and ethnographic film, THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL weaves a magical tale about a nomadic Mongolian family who reunite a rejected baby camel with its mother. When a mother camel refuses to sustain her child, the keepers of the camels often reunite them in a ritual with folk music and chanting, the results of which elicit deep emotion--even causing the mother camel to weep real tears. Exploring more than just traditional ritual, this film speaks to the very nature of love--the baby camel cannot survive without his mother, just as no animal or person can.
Directors Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni drew upon the documentary style of Robert Flaherty (NANOOK OF THE NORTH), who recreated events to comprehensively portray his subjects. The pair tirelessly filmed spontaneous events for much of the mother-baby story, but chose to recreate certain moments in the family's daily life. A particularly humorous and insightful example involves a young boy who clearly feels conflicted between his family life and his desire for a more Western life. The film creates a contrast between the two, showing the boy listening to traditional fables in his family's tent, but then dreaming about owning a television. This spare film provides a visually enchanting and unique learning experience.
Notes
DVD Features:
Region (unknown)
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Surround Stereo 2.0 English
Dolby Surround 5.1 English
Additional Release Material:
Documentary
Text/Photo Gallery:
Photo gallery, IN THEATRES: JUNE 4, 2004 (NY/LA)
Editorial Reviews
"Filmmakers Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni bring humor and sensitivity to their chronicle of a vanishing way of life."
Movieline - Stephen Farber (06/01/2004)
"[T]he vivid fictional specifics, and the simple loveliness of the artless performances by nonactor Mongolian nomads, attest to the filmmakers' abundant artistry."
Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum (06/11/2004)
"[L]ovely, uncomplicated....It's a picture that will probably keep young eyes entranced."
New York Times - Elvis Mitchell (06/04/2004)
"[C]ompelling as any fictional feature....The film-makers are alert to the beauty and austerity of the landscapes."
Sight and Sound - Geoffrey Macnab (07/01/2004)
"What raises this is the direction..."
Uncut - Chris Roberts (12/01/2004)
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