The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003)

Undescribable Perfection

I wanted to but couldn't!

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Absolutely brilliant

Overall, this may not be that memorable a film, but one scene certainly is one I doubt you'll ever forget. I mean, how many of us have seen a camel give birth? Not only that, but labor for two days to get the young "colt" out, and then do it standing up? It's a very dramatic, intense five-minute scene, one I won't soon forget.For most of this film, however, not much happens yet it does have a certain appeal. I had read how fantastic the scenery was but, outside of the snow-capped mountains in the background, the terrain is flat and totally bleak. Living in this vast desert is almost depressing. Imagine living in that barren land year after year? For the family featured in this film, it didn't seem bad. They didn't know any other way of life and they seemed quite content.However, as we see near the end of the movie, not everyone in that area lives in a sturdy tent and raises sheep and camels. There is a store miles away and schools and music and dance classes, etc. The little boy in featured family is awed when he sees a television set. He wants one, of course. The grandpa tells the boy he'd just sit around and watch TV all day and that would be bad. In the end, though, the movie concludes with a shot of a huge satellite dish outside the tent! The story is basically about how the family figures out who to get the mother camel to nurse its young one and, yes, there is a happy ending.Summary: a likable film but you must be patient with it.

I truly feel sorry for those viewers - of a younger generation, no doubt - who are products of a culture whose main purpose seems to be the constant diminishing of attention spans. This is indeed a slow and long-breathed story whose pace matches the vast spaces and ancient culture of the people portrayed. I stumbled on this charming, touching, and humorous film purely by accident this morning, drawn by its fetching title. As soon as I tuned in I could not take my eyes off it. It is true that we are drawn by the strangeness of the way of life of these people, but the film makers have done a superb job of showing us how, in so many ways, these people and their families are so much like us, stressing our common humanity. The film makers made the admirable decision not to include a voice-over narration, allowing events and the words of the people involved to tell the story, as sparse as it is. But then "story" is not the point of this movies, although the central plot line of a mother camel who rejects her calf is certainly sufficient to make it all hang together. I also - although far from being a guilty green liberal felt a twinge of sadness abd regret to see the accoutrements of Western consumer culture slowly insinuating themselves into these people's lives. I really cringed when young Ugna asked his father for a TV for their tent.This is really a grownup film, and perhaps it appeal is - sadly - to a more mature and intelligent audience, but it is a real sleeper not to be missed.

In the spring of the Gobi Desert, in South Mongolia, a nomadic family of shepherds has troubles when one camel has a tough two days delivery, immediately rejecting the offspring. The family unsuccessfully uses their best efforts trying to force the female to accept and feed the newborn. When there is no further hope of saving the animal, they send their two sons to bring a musician from the nearest town to perform a ritual and save the "baby camel".I do not know, and I was really curious to know, how could be the original screenplay of this documentary. I believe the first intention of directors Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni would be to document the lifestyle of a nomadic family of shepherds, showing a different culture for the Westerners. However, fortune gave them the opportunity of sharing a great experience with the viewers with the ritual that brought the camel to accept the offspring. Thank you, Messrs. Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni, for such touching, beautiful and wonderful film. My vote is nine.Title (Brazil): "Camelos Também Choram" ("Camels Also Weep")

This is a fantastic movie.I smiled and cried all the way through this film.The colors.The pictures.Not many words.Very meditative and uplifting.I have it on DVD and I can watch it again and again.The story is simple and touching.The camel mother refuse to take care of its baby and leave it when it tries to suck milk.After several days of trying different things the owners of the camel a Mongolian family realize that the baby camel wont survive if they don't do something very soon.So they sent out two of the youngest boys of the family to a town for help and for some batteries for their transistor radio.I can really recommend this film.