Khadak (2006) Reviews

• Gorgeous visuals and intricate sound tell a current yet timeless story

  chuck-5262007-12-07

  This is an excellent movie, well worth experiencing. Don't be fooled by its obscurity. This is not a low-budget nor protest flick. It has very high production values and is worthy of the best auteurs. It's just that its distribution didn't connect with the American marketing machine. The first time I saw it, I was bowled over by the gorgeous visuals, but couldn't follow the narrative, especially in the last half. I got the feeling this was normal, that there wasn't really any narrative except in the magico-realistic sense, that the movie was meant to be viewed impressionistic-ally. Then I absorbed just a bit about the history of Mongolia and Mongolian shamanism at home, and saw it again. The second time the narrative was clear throughout. The gorgeous visuals were still there, but now they weren't the only thing. One key was understanding that shamanism was heavily discouraged when Mongolia was a Soviet satellite for decades. Another was understanding just a bit about shamanism itself: that the giant blue sky is almost a personality; that poles and clefts and even trees can be entrances to the world below; that shamans are called by their first trance experience, which often manifests as an illness, and trained by the previous generation's shaman; that shamanistic trances and epileptic fits are similar; and most importantly that the highest calling of a shaman is to "restore balance" with nature for an entire people. More imagery made sense with the understanding that going under water meant death from this world (and perhaps birth into the world of nature). The parallel between a woman traumatized by the relocation to modernity and a peeled potato going under water in a basin became clear. I never entirely figured out the symbolism of the apples. Maybe they signify Soviet times, or maybe danger, or maybe a turn away from shamanism, or maybe materialism. And are potatoes distorted apples? I never entirely integrated the Christian symbolism. There are clear references to at least Christ, the last supper, the twelve disciples, and the cross. And I never entirely figured out the significance of counting. Although counting works as an adjunct of other symbolism, I suspect it has a meaning of its own. There are no love scenes in the Western sense (after all, it's far too cold to take off one's clothes). We get only one tentative kiss, a couple ghost embraces, a tiny bit of touching, and a few lines of dialog. Yet the effect is sensuous in the extreme. This is way more with way less. The feelings are intense, yet without skirting an NC-17 or R rating (the movie is actually unrated; it could be PG ...but probably won't appeal to 13 year olds). Yet all of this is secondary. What really stood out the second time was the importance of hyper-hearing ...abetted by the sound track. Suddenly the scene of the fishes under the ice made sense, as did hearing approaching trucks before they even appeared on the horizon. Ears are touched throughout, and some epileptic fits begin with auditory hallucinations. At one point a medical person comments the protagonist "listens very well". The motions of finding a person buried somewhere in a railroad car full of coal makes sense. The sound track is very complex. Often rather than just matching the current scene, it contains the first subtle segue to the next. At one point the sounds of water in pipes goes on for so long it can get tuned out. But the sound subtly changes ever so slowly; toward the end one can dimly pick out mixed into all the water sounds another sound, that of sheep bleating. The sound track is the key to and high point of this movie. It holds the story together. And it's excellent artistry. Yet the first time I completely missed it. Listen and you'll be richly rewarded.

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• An emotional journey that captures the soul of Mongolian culture and tradition

  mikellj2007-01-25

  A true work of art. An emotional journey that captures the soul of Mongolian culture and tradition while posing important questions on the dilemma facing traditional Mongolian values by the destruction of Mongolians most precious treasure, their land, by international mining operations. Beautifully crafted scene's and soul shaking audio design tell much of the story that has been left unverbalized. The directors have done an amazing job of researching Mongolian culture, society, social changes, etc. and show a true appreciation for Mongolia's heritage. The directors use of a generally unexperienced cast, with the exception of a few of Mongolia's best, had astounding results. The actors who played the main characters Bagi and Zolzaya were flawless, especially considering they have never acted before. Reading the synopsis and interviews with the directors afterwards may help some not familiar with Mongolia to better understand some of the deeper meaning and symbolism embedded in this film. 10 out of 10!

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• Moving, brutal and beautiful

  lyubozar2007-03-09

  I'd like to share my positive impressions from this movie. I've just seen it on Sofia Film Festival and I find it truly amazing. It deals with some topics about life and humanity in totalitarian Soviet-dominated societies - in a way that is both just and powerful. Being a Bulgarian that have witnessed totalitarian rule's disregard for the human individual - I find this movie a powerful reminder of how vital yet fragile our relations to nature and traditions are. Acting is brilliant - especially the lead character. There is a well done balance of landscape, color and contrast that make this movie visually outstanding. What did put me off a bit - and made me reduce my vote to a 8/10 mark - were a couple of scenes at the end of the movie that, though meaningful and powerful, do brake the overall balanced and well-programmed dynamics of the whole movie - and i think that if they were cut out - it would only have improved and boosted this movie's basic messages to the viewer... I find this line in the synopsis "animals fall victim to a plague which threatens to eradicate nomadism" irrelevant, misleading and diminishing authors' main ideas... Overall - a great movie...

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• interesting, beautiful images, yet unconvincing

  ruisendewind2007-07-03

  I saw the film only yesterday, yet my impression at the end of it has not changed. It is certainly a film containing beautiful images of snow covered plains and wastelands in Mongolia. And in the beginning there is some promise of yet another quiet, elegiac tale of wide plains, nomads and their wisdom. But this quietist expectation soon is shattered, and the viewer, together with the film's protagonists, is thrown out of this sub-zero garden of Eden. What follows still remains beautiful and striking in its imagery, but annoyed me more and more because of the loosening up of the structure and ever more unexpected twists and turns, until, really, I reached the point where it got very hard to be bothered at all. Though I am not against experiments and boldness, this attempt at a poetic film of a conflict between tradition and modernity was lost on me, mainly because its makers apparently could not decide between impressionist documentary, expressionist story-telling and a superficial interest for the folklore of the supernatural.

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• A stunningly beautiful film

  amberapple-12008-02-06

  I saw a screener DVD of this, but would love to see it on the big screen. A heartbreaking story of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia being forced to abandon their homes due to a "plague" outbreak among animals. Despite their own herds being healthy, the family who is the focus of the beginning of the film are forcibly moved to a mining town, where their son Bagi, who has visions of his ancestors is forced to work for a pittance. Other nomads have been detained for offenses like playing music publicly. The only food available seems to be potatoes, but there appears to be meat available on the black market, and this feeds speculation that the clearances were not motivated by animal sickness after all. Bagi is arrested and while in the detention center meets a group of young activists who want to rebel against their unlawful imprisonment, and to free the animals they know are still alive. The song they perform is a high point of the film, and adds to an already excellent score and soundtrack. This story does not have an entirely happy ending, but there is some measure of hope and redemption here. The film's strength lies in its very simple visuals and minimal dialogue, which powerfully portray a way of life that is dying out due to government interference.

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