When gifted high school student Ulzii unexpectedly wins a local physics competition in Mongolia’s capital city Ulaanbaatar, he sees a chance to escape his deprived neighbourhood by competing in the national finals for the chance of a university scholarship. But when his struggling mother returns to the countryside in search of work, he has to balance the demands of looking after his younger siblings during a harsh winter with pursuing his academic dreams.
The first Mongolian film to ever play in official selection at Cannes, writer/director Zoljargal Purevdash’s beautifully photographed debut feature is a hope-filled coming-of-age drama about resilience and determination against the odds.
FILM DETAILS
Mongolia, France, Switzerland, Qatar · 2023 · 96 min · Drama
Original language: Mongolian
Themes: Survival, Environment, Poverty, Education, Family, Children's visibility
AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
Asia (excluding Taiwan, Indonesia, Russia, Mongolia), LatAm, South Africa
Festivals and Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2023
Un Certain Regard
Tokyo FILMeX 2023
Special Jury Prize, Audience Prize
Jerusalem Film Festival 2023
Best International Debut, Special Mention
Shanghai International Film Festival 2024
CREDITS
Director and screenwriter: Zoljargal Purevdash
Producers: Frederic Corvez, Maeva Savinien, Zoljargal Purevdash
Cinematography: Davaanyam Delgerjargal
Key Cast: Battsooj Uurtsaikh, Nominjiguur Tsend, Tuguldur Batsaikhan
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