Khadak (2006)

Directors:

Peter Brosens
Jessica Hope Woodworth

Writers:

Peter Brosens (writer)
Jessica Hope Woodworth (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 February 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Set in the frozen steppes of Mongolia, a young nomad confronted with his destiny after animals fall victim to a plague which threatens to eradicate nomadism.

Plot Keywords:

Steppes | Plague | Mongolia | Vision | Epilepsy

Awards:

16 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Batzul Khayankhyarvaa	...	Bagi
Tsetsegee Byamba	...	Zolzaya
Banzar Damchaa	...	Grandfather
Tserendarizav Dashnyam	...	Shamaness
Dugarsuren Dagvadorj	...	Mother
Uuriintuya Enkhtaivan	...	Naraa
Otgontogos Namsrai	...	Doctor
Gereisukh Otgon	...	Nurse
Bat-Erdene Damdinsuren	...	Zolzaya's Brother

Also Known As:

Khadak - Die Farbe des Himmels (Germany) (TV title)
The Colour of Water (Belgium) (working title)

Runtime:

Belgium:104 min

Country:

Belgium | Germany | Netherlands

Language:

Mongolian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Belgium:KT | Germany:12 | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Inner Mongolia, China

Company:

Bo Films

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the shots where the Shamaness is smashing the liquor bottles on the ground, several of them bounce, or just break into a few pieces, but the sound effect is still that of a bottle shattering to bits.

Disturbing, but overly slow and cryptic

I have just seen this film, and my opinion of it is mixed.

On the one hand, the film gives a detailed and intimate view of Mongolian life, especially in the first part; moreover, there is a strong political message behind it, which leads to some disturbing and powerful images (nothing too shocking).

On the other hand, everything is filmed in such a tediously slow manner that it becomes either mesmerizing or simply boring. Unfortunately, in my case, the whole audience including myself were not mesmerized. Moreover, toward the ending, the film becomes more and more surreal, which for me personally did not lead to a satisfied feeling at the actual end.

All in all, if you enjoy watching empty lands and silent people for a long time, you may be able to enjoy the positive aspects of this film. If, like me, you like films with at least the outline of a well-defined story and the feeling that you somehow understood what you just saw, this might not be the film for you.