Drama

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Amygdala Films

Urban Factory

New Mongol Academy

France

Mongolia

Qatar

Switzerland

If Only I Could Hibernate

Battsooj Uurtsaikh

Nominjiguur Tsend

Tuguldur Batsaikhan

Batmandakh Batchuluun

Ganchimeg Sandagdorj

Batsaikhan Battulga

Urnukhbayar Battogtokh

Purevdulam Natsagbadam

Davaasamba Sharav

Sukhee Lodonchuluun

Batzorig Sukhbaatar

Khuslen Naranbaatar

Munkhjargal Nyamdavaa

Anand Ariuntugs

Enkhnaran Ganzorig

Tsegtsbold Erkhemsaikhan

Taivanbat Alexandar

Bavuudorj Radnaa

Altangerel Dorj

Galbadrakh Janchiv

Lkhakvadorj Nyamkhuu

Erdenebat Pagvaa

Buyankhishig Ish

Pagmadulam Natsagdorj

Bayarmaa Ganbold

Tsegts-Itgel Mungun-Od

Guljaina Baatarbyek

Zoljargal Byambadash

Enkhtsetseg Shatar

Delgersaikhan Danaa

Khangal Bayanmunkh

Amartuvshin Munkh-Od

Lkhagvadulam Tumursukh

Gantsogtbayar Tumurbaatar

Gan-Erdene Ganbaatar

Bum-Erdene Ragchaa

Otgonzaya Banzai

Tulgaa Geleg

Gan-Erdene Nyamdavaa

Berkhee

Maéva Savinien

Philippe Grivel

Byambajargal Ganbold

Frédéric Corvez

Johanni Curtet

Ariunsetgel Tserenpil

Julien Petri

Vincent Vacarisas

Batkhishig Sed-Ayushjav

Tugsuu Baatar

Baasansengee Munkhmyagmar

Altanshagai Munkhnasan

Zoljargal Purevdash

Alexandra Strauss

Ariuntugs Tserenpil

Davaanyam Delgerjargal

Bolormaa Luvsandorj

Naranbat Battulga

Tan Chui Mui

Dulguun Bayasgalan

Zendmene-Erdene Ichinnorov

Charlotte Wiltz

CinemaSerf

In a city well lit and dotted with numerous hilltop communication masts, we meet the young "Ulzii" (Battsooj Uurtsaikh) who is living quite a contrasting existence with his mother and three siblings in a yurt than has an one-ring electric cooker and a coal burning stove. He is a gifted physics student whose teacher (Batzorig Sukhbaatar) is trying to coax him to enter a competition and focus more on his studies, but it's increasingly clear that this young man is very much the breadwinner. His recently widowed mother reverts to the bottle when things get tough and yearns to return to the rural, herding, life she had lived before marriage. Their's is a tempestuous relationship, and when things come to an head she takes their youngest away, whilst he and the elder children remain to keep up with their schooling. What follows now sees young "Ulzii" forced to make tough choices as he must reconcile the needs of his family with the time and effort he needs to put into his studies. A lack of coal, wood and a infection in his brother that he can't afford to medicate force him to take a path that addresses the immediacy of their needs but what of his future? I thought Uurtsaikh did well here, juggling the aspirations of a young boy who wanted to be just that, with his responsibilities as a de facto father. The actors portraying the siblings work well too, creating a sense of a family unit - they all share the same small bed - that does care for each other and all want to help. The conditions are bleak. Somehow the harsh cold always looks worse amidst an urban landscape where we are offered enough of a pretty stark comparison between even the most modest of city dwellings and his family's semi-rural existence on the outskirts. It is intense at times, but it is also quite funny too. Who knew the cure for a mouth ulcer involved a saddle-bit and a big toe? It is his younger brother who comes up with the idea of hibernating, and if I'd been there I think I would have agreed.

Best Movies

If Only I Could Hibernate

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Battsooj Uurtsaikh

Nominjiguur Tsend

Tuguldur Batsaikhan

Batmandakh Batchuluun

Ganchimeg Sandagdorj

Batsaikhan Battulga

Urnukhbayar Battogtokh

Purevdulam Natsagbadam

Davaasamba Sharav

Sukhee Lodonchuluun

Box office

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