The Story of the Weeping Camel
A rare white camel colt and the nomadic family determined to reunite it with its rejecting mother become the heart of a tender Gobi Desert docudrama.
Overview
A poignant tale of resilience and tradition amidst the harsh beauty of the Gobi Desert.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- tender
- contemplative
- strangely moving
- quiet afternoon
- family viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a delightful, unusual, and deeply moving portrait of Mongolian nomadic life and an animal-family bond.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film follows a Mongolian nomadic family and camel herd through staged but documentary-like daily life and ritual.
The boys seek a musician and violin performance to help restore the rejected camel mother's bond with her colt.
Shepherding, camel births, family roles, ritual, and nomadic customs shape the central conflict and its resolution.
The Gobi Desert's vast spaces frame close observation of the family, the herd, and the colt's precarious survival.
Films like The Story of the Weeping Camel, and why
Honeyland
observational documentary realism, rural family life, and intimate attention to animal-human bonds
The Gleaners and I
gentle documentary portrait of traditional pastoral culture and changing ways of life
The Scent of Green Papaya
poetic rural docudrama centered on family, ritual, and emotionally resonant everyday labor
Movie Details
- Directors
- Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni
- Release Date
- 2004-08-12
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (113)
Cast
- Janchiv Ayurzana
- Chimed Ohin
- Amgaabazar Gonson
- Zeveljamz Nyam
- Ikhbayar Amgaabazar
- Odgerel Ayusch
- Enkhbulgan Ikhbayar
- Uuganbaatar Ikhbayar
- Guntbaatar Ikhbayar
- Munkhbayar Lhagvaa
Common questions
- What is The Story of the Weeping Camel about?
- A rare white camel colt and the nomadic family determined to reunite it with its rejecting mother become the heart of a tender Gobi Desert docudrama.
- What is The Story of the Weeping Camel like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Story of the Weeping Camel as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Story of the Weeping Camel violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Story of the Weeping Camel as mild.
- What did critics think of The Story of the Weeping Camel?
- Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a delightful, unusual, and deeply moving portrait of Mongolian nomadic life and an animal-family bond.
- Which films are like The Story of the Weeping Camel?
- Films with a similar feel include Honeyland, The Gleaners and I, and The Scent of Green Papaya.
- How long is The Story of the Weeping Camel?
- The Story of the Weeping Camel runs 91 minutes.
