Inspired by Robert J. Flaherty (Nanook of the North), this ethnographic drama by Luigi Falorni and Byambasuren Davaa focuses on a family of Mongolian herders in the Gobi Desert who face a crisis when one of their camels refuses to nurse its albino newborn. To save the newborn’s life, the father sends his two sons into the nearest town to enlist the services of a violinist, hoping that a traditional musical ritual will revive the mother’s instincts. The project was produced in association with National Geographic World Films, a relationship borne out by the movie’s cultural detail, rich earth-toned cinematography (by Falorni), and almost complete lack of dramatic tension. In Mongolian with subtitles. PG, 90 min.
