User Reviews

Nomads in Nei Mongol, who have lived as nomads for many centuries, are being overwhelmed in two big waves: the commercialism led by Han people who dominate capitalized China, and the disappearance of the grassland. Many families abandon their long lasted nomad life and move to town for new, unknown life, where money and Han language count. However, this father of the family of three stubbornly sticks to the nomad life, saying "I am a born shepherd. I can do nothing but shepherd".

From this line, I recall a station master of "Poppoya" acted by Takakura Ken. When the rail road line he had kept long years was going to be abolished, his former coworker visited him to persuade to work in a new ski site. But the station master refuses it, saying "I can do nothing but rail road job".

This station master's answer came from his pride as a railroad man, who had served for many people throughout his life. But the case of this nomad father is different. His refusal to move forward is nothing more than a useless resistance and a fear to go one step for change. Facing overwhelming change of environment, all of his resistances were of no avail. He hated his wife working, but the reality was that only wife could earn money to live.

The story is very well made. At the opening, while the father goes to his uncle to negotiate to rent his grass field, a big advertisement team of a new wine company marches into his territory to practice the performance, and its Han manager introduces himself to the wife in awkward Mongolian. In this short time all important elements of the story are introduced. Every episode in the movie has specific role, and the mood shifts in the characters, agitation, anger and grief, are portrayed convincingly.

I saw this independent film at at festival in California in 2005, and ten years later, I still remember how much I loved this film. I did not have high expectations at first because I'd never heard of this director, who I think also starred in it. But by the time I was done watching this film, this director - who came to the screening - was a bigger deal to me than Tom Hanks or some other big actor. The acting, the writing, the scenery, and the genuine longing to preserve native culture really moved me. And I was looking it up here because I want to know how to get my hands on it again! This is the trouble with independent movies, especially when they come from Mongolia! Where do you find them again?