Message from ddandridge

[Anonymous]

I just finished watching "The Weeping Camel." This film was produced by a German consotium in Mongolia.
The film is primarily a look at the lives of Mongolian Camel herders. The people and events are contemorary, but the life style is such that it could be just about anytime in the last 2 or 3 millenia. The story revolves around a female camel that gives birth then rejects the colt. The family attempt to get the mother to accept the colt, but she will not. So, the famil send off two of their sons to retrieve a mucician to come and perform in a ceremony to unite the mother and child.
The film is quite well made and is an intersting look into the lives and culture of these people. Again, other than plastic tubs and a couple of tv and radio references, this film could be depicting just aboput any time in the last couple of thousand years. This is the best part of the film, you get a good overview of their lives and culture. You also get a good view of how hard their lives are as they tie down their gers(most people use the Russian word 'yurt' which is actually a different structure) in the face of a strong storm.
As for the classroom, I would never show the whole film as it would be too "slow" for most students, no explosions, comedy or much "action." There is actually very little dialogue in the film which is subtitled (another detractor for showing it to students). I might use a few clips to demonstate the life style and the environment. This is another stong part of the film as it has many spectacular vista shots of the Gobi desert.
It could also be useful if you were wnating to show images of camels as the film is filled with them and their various antics, whci include their wistful gazes and spitting when annoyed. The camels are real scene stealers.
Overall, it is a wonderful film with limited usefulness in the classroom.

David Dandridge