Die Höhle des gelben Hundes (2005)

Director:

Byambasuren Davaa

Writers:

Byambasuren Davaa (writer)
Michael P. Greco (adaptation)

Release Date:

28 July 2005 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The little nomad girl Nansal finds a baby dog in the mongolian veld, who becomes her best friend - against all rejections of her parents...

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Nomad | Fear | Vulture | Family Life

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Batchuluun Urjindorj	...	Father
Buyandulam Daramdadi	...	Mother
Nansal Batchuluun	...	Oldest daughter
Nansalmaa Batchuluun	...	Youngest daughter
Babbayar Batchuluun	...	Son
Tserenpuntsag Ish	...	Older woman
Scharav Sumiya	...	First hunter
Battur Lhamsuren	...	Second hunter
Batjargal Ulzidelger	...	Driver

Also Known As:

The Cave of the Yellow Dog (International: English title) (Ireland: English title) (UK)
Der mongolische Hund (Germany) (working title)
Die Höhle des gelben Hundes - Eine Geschichte aus der Mongolei (Germany) (long title)

Runtime:

93 min | Argentina:93 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Germany

Language:

Mongolian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:6 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | France:U | Argentina:Atp | UK:U | Ireland:G | USA:G | Australia:PG | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

Inner Mongolia, China

Company:

Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF)

Quotes:

Oldest daughter: Will I be reborn as a person in my next life?
Old Woman: Come here, I'll show you something.
[dropping a palm-full of rice grains onto an upward needle]
Old Woman: [handing the needle to the girl] Tell me when a grain of rice balance on the tip of the needle.
Oldest daughter: [dropping rice onto the needle for a while]
Old Woman: [chuckles]
Oldest daughter: That's impossible!
Old Woman: See, my child? That's how hard it is to be born again as a person. That's why a human life is so valuable.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Pastewka: Die Strategie der Schnecke (#2.2)" (2006)

wonderful

Quite simply, "The Cave Of The Yellow Dog" is a wonderful film: it is heart-warming, life-affirming. It is simple, touching, unpretentious, with a documentary quality to it (how do people live there); it came as no surprise to see on the closing credits that this is a genuine family. Very probably non-professional actors (how could the small children act?). I saw it twice in two days and on second viewing, one can appreciate its subtle construction, how small details pave the way for slight plot twists: more going on under the surface than it originally looks like. For instance the reason behind the father's reluctance; the mixing of dogs and wolves; the people's economic conditions; the (potentially dangerous) presence of vultures in the background, and so on, all of which get to play a part at some later stage. Just go and see it, this film is an utter breath of fresh air. Beautiful ethnic music as well.