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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