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The Story Of The Weeping Camel Details

2004 DVD Certificate U.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 5114 members

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 .. Read more

Starring Janchiv Ayurzana, Chimed Ohin, Amgaabazar Gonson
Director Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni
Genres Drama, World Cinema

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The Story Of The Weeping Camel

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.

Starring Janchiv Ayurzana, Chimed Ohin, Amgaabazar Gonson
Director Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni
Studio UGC FILMS
Run time DVD: 1 hr 27 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate U.gif
Genres Drama, World Cinema
Language Mongolian
Subtitles English
Released DVD: not available
Production year: 2004
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Story Of The Weeping Camel

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    When Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni arrived in the Gobi Desert intent on capturing a slice of Mongolian life, they had only ten hours of Super-16 film stock with which to do so. So the fact that this study of a family of camel herders is both compelling and charming owes as much to luck as judgement. When a mother camel begins to neglect her new-born white calf, the action becomes increasingly affecting, especially after a local musician is summoned to perform a mystical ritual to bond the intransigent mother and her adorable offspring. But the human side of the story is equally poignant, with the final arrival of satellite television symbolising a threat to this ancient and arduous way of life.

    • Radio Times
  • Robert Flahertys widow once referred to his work as a cinema of non-preconception; this début feature... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of The Story Of The Weeping Camel

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  • 14 out of 15 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    The story of the weepy mother

    What a wonderful film to watch with your family. We all sat down to it together, an increasingly rare occurrance, and were delighted by the quietness of the film. It is the antithesis of the usual blockbusting family extravaganza dished up to families in the guise of entertainment, which usually turn out to be unmoving and unfunny.

    We all loved it and it is one film we will always remember.

      • mishi from Salisbury
  • Most recent members' review of The Story Of The Weeping Camel

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    see it with the kids

    I love this film! Required family viewing, in my opinion – please don't be put off by the fact that it's subtitled; there's hardly any dialogue. My 9- and 12-year-olds were captivated, even though they're more used to blockbusters...it is a simple tale, beautifully told. A rare gem, the perfect antidote to CGI overload.

      • A customer from London
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5,114 Member ratings
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712
  • 90
580
  • 80
981
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834
  • 60
742
  • 50
458
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292
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222
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190
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103

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