Die Geschichte vom weinenden Kamel (2003)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Byambasuren Davaa
Luigi Falorni

Writers:

Byambasuren Davaa (writer)
Batbayar Davgadorj (writer)

Release Date:

8 January 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Documentary | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Some fairy tales are true... some legends are real.

Plot:

When a Mongolian nomadic family's newest camel colt is rejected by its mother, a musician is needed for a ritual to change her mind.

Plot Keywords:

Camel | Desert | Musician | Mongolia | Nomad

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 9 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Janchiv Ayurzana	...	Janchiv
Chimed Ohin	...	Chimed
Amgaabazar Gonson	...	Amgaa
Zeveljamz Nyam	...	Zevel
Ikhbayar Amgaabazar	...	Ikchee
Odgerel Ayusch	...	Odgoo
Enkhbulgan Ikhbayar	...	Dude
Uuganbaatar Ikhbayar	...	Ugna
Guntbaatar Ikhbayar	...	Guntee
Munkhbayar Lhagvaa	...	Munkbayar, violin teacher
Ariunjargal Adiya	...	Teacher's Assistant
Dogo Roljav	...	Relative Aimak I
Chuluunzezeg Gur	...	Relative Aimak II
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Botok	...	Baby Camel
Ingen Tenne	...	Mother Camel

Also Known As:

The Story of the Weeping Camel (International: English title)
The Weeping Camel (Australia)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild thematic content.

Runtime:

87 min (25 fps) | 90 min (24 fps) | Hong Kong:93 min (Hong Kong International Film Festival)

Country:

Germany

Language:

Mongolian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-3 | West Germany:o.Al. | Switzerland:8 (canton of the Grisons) | USA:PG | Norway:A | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:PG | Finland:S | Australia:PG | UK:U | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Aimak, Inner Mongolia, China

Company:

Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF)

Trivia:

The program that Ugna enjoys on TV is the Soviet animation classic "Nu, pogodi!" (1969)

Quotes:

Ugna: Dad, don't we want to buy a tv? it's wonderful.
Amgaa: What do you want to do with this devil? You don't need that. You'd spend the whole day watching the glass images. That's no good.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV)

the weeping camel

this documentary did portray a Mongolian family living their life and performing their everyday duties, however, the film seemed to have been "polished" to a degree where the viewers were presented not exactly with the 'real' thing, but a carefully staged and choreographed lifestyle. it was an interesting take on the nomadic culture, but a bit overly commercialised, for my taste. as i am a Mongolian, i could testify that the subtitles did not include big parts from what was actually being said. instead, it concentrated more on the lines that support the general 'plotline', which was a major let down, i would assume. and you can really see the agenda behind the film, which is to make Mongolia a very attractive destination for travel. it does portray a "cute" family living happily, so remote from civilization, thus very much 'attractive'. i guess it must seem to people like a relief in times of "farenheit 9/11" and "the corporation", but i'm upset with this representation for its fakeness and blunt 'cuteness'. the ritual performed is a very old one, and i'm sure it's very much related to the ancient shamanistic religion of the Mongols. in overall, was OK to watch once. (at least we're finally making films that get distributed worldwide)