IDirectors: Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni
f you’ve never seen the oddly beautiful springtime of the Gobi Desert or the mildly nauseating glisten of a newly born camel, “The Story of the Weeping Camel” can guarantee at least two new pleasures.
What is more familiar, however, is what makes this movie so endearing. Though the settings and specifics will be utterly alien to most American audiences, the themes of family unity and longing for acceptance are instantly identifiable. There’s an effortless blend of straight documentary and some staged scenes. The movie avoids getting too heavyhanded, letting the obviousness of its metaphors play out by themselves.
This will be an especially good choice for the youngsters out there, as the film has a number of children in key roles, a simple plot, lots of animals and everybody’s favorite – yurts!
The little white camel is the lost child in all of us, crying for its mother in the stark desert night. If it sounds corny, well, maybe you’re too jaded. Just because it’s good for the kiddies doesn’t mean that we grownup types will find anything lacking. This is a fascinating look at a rarely seen culture and environment.
