We all know that camel movies are a dime a dozen. Seen one camel movie, you’ve seen ‘em all, as the familiar Hollywood saying has it.
Nevertheless, despite all the camel movies crowding the multiplexes, I must direct your attention to a little film called “The Story of the Weeping Camel.” It’s a gem.
This film played in the Seattle International Film Festival earlier this year, and was easily one of the most beloved pictures in the fest. It comes from Mongolia.
Co-director Byambasuren Davaa grew up in Mongolia, and her grandparents were nomads, like the people depicted in the film. The story springs from the customs of the desert people.
In the middle of the Gobi Desert, we meet a nomadic family. Scattered around the land surrounding their large, comfortable yurt are dozens of camels. The new litter of camel colts each spring is an important part of the nomads’ survival.
We witness the birth of a rare all-white calf, in a scene that perhaps stretches the limits of endurance for witnessing a camel live birth.
The mother rejects the calf. If she doesn’t nurse the baby, it could die, and the family tries hard to bring the animals together.
Finally, the two young sons are sent on a journey to the nearest town, to hire a musician to come and play for the camel. This, it is said, is a traditional way of reuniting mother and calf.
This is one of those simple stories that, in part because of its sheer simplicity, has you on the edge of your seat. Yes, at some point you may think, “I don’t care about camels. Why am I so into this?” But you will be into it.
Davaa and co-director Luigi Falorni (they met in film school in Munich) took their cameras to the Gobi to film the season of camel birthings. Using locals as actors for the staged scenes, and capturing other documentary moments on the fly, they pieced together this tale.
So it’s a sort of ethnographic docudrama. It’s fascinating to watch the nomads herding wayward camels, like cowboys in a western, or seeing the way the modern world has crept into Mongolia – including the sight of a kid wearing a Yankees cap.
Whatever magic the filmmakers had (they got very lucky during their shoot, especially finding a white calf), it extended to the camels. These camels give great performances, and this time I’m not kidding. They even cry on cue, which is more than you can say for many professional actors.
“The Story of the Weeping Camel” HHH
Touching: A rather wonderful tale of nomads in the Gobi Desert, and their efforts to reconcile a mother camel with her calf. (In Mongolian, with English subtitles.)
Rated: PG rating is for subject matter.
Now showing: tk
“The Story of the Weeping Camel” HHH
Touching: A rather wonderful tale of nomads in the Gobi Desert, and their efforts to reconcile a mother camel with her calf. (In Mongolian, with English subtitles.)
Rated: PG rating is for subject matter.
Now showing: Varsity
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