Cinema of Mongolia
Encyclopedia
The cinema of Mongolia has been strongly influenced by the cinema of Russia
, which differentiates it from cinematic developments in the rest of Asia.
happened between 1903 and 1913, as private events for the prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren and the Jebtsundamba
in the capital Urga.
After the socialist revolution, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
decided in its fifth congress of 1925 to use movies as an instrument of mass education. From 1926 on, mobile projection facilities would regularly show Soviet films to the Mongolian people. The first permanent cinema "Ard" opened in the capital (now named Ulaanbaatar
) in 1934. Eventually, every aimag
center would have fixed cinemas, and every sums of Mongolia or negdel
would have a mobile cinema. In the 1990s, many cinemas, fixed and mobile alike, closed down or reduced activities.
. The first Mongolian-directed movie was the black-and-white short feature Norjmaa's Destiny (Norjmaagiin Zam) by Temet Natsagdorj in 1938.
From then on, the Mongolian movie production focused around heroic revolutionary propaganda and ancient popular legends, still often under Russian direction. This program was very successful with movies like Sükhbaatar (1942) and Tsogt Taij (1945). The studios of Mongol Kino also produced documentaries and current news reports.
DEFA studios. The music of the film, written by L. Mördorj, was played and recorded by the GDR Radio orchestra and became a classic of the Mongolian symphony
. As a fairy tale film, it is rich with match moving
and other special effects of cinematography
.
, is however set during Mongolia's 1921 revolution. Other well-known productions were "The Legend of the Mother Oasis" ("Ehe Bürdiin domog"), made in 1976 by Gombojav Jigjidsuren (Гомбожавын Жигжидсүрэн) and Jamyangiin Buntar (Жамъяангийн Бунтар), and The Five Colors of the Rainbow (Solongiin tavan öngö) in 1979. The Leading Wrestler Garuda
(Garid Magnai, 1983) by Jamyangiin Buntar marks a turning point, where the authors liberate themselves from the existing power structures.
. However, some young filmmakers of the transformation period, such as N. Gankhuyag, B. Uranchimeg, J. Binder, made domestic success films.
The movie "Genghis Khan, Under Power of the Eternal Sky", starring Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren
was the first Mongolian-Japanese co-production. State of Dogs
(Nokhoin Oron, 1998) was written and directed collaboratively by the Belgian Peter Brosens and the Mongolian Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh.
The director Byambasuren Davaa
has had international success with the German-Mongolian co-productions The Story of the Weeping Camel
(2003, nominated for an Academy Award as foreign documentary in 2005) and The Cave of the Yellow Dog
(2005).
Elsnii Nuudel , was a successful movie produced for the domestic market in 2007. Later known films are Iim negen durlal, Goyoliin Daashinz etc.
The 2008 historical film A Pearl in the Forest
by director Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren
is one of the first films to openly talk about events of the 1930s and the impact of the rise of Soviet communism on Mongolia. It is also one of the first films intended to present the history of the Buryats
, one of the ethnic groups present in Mongolia.
Cinema of Russia
The cinema of Russia began in the Russian Empire, widely developed under the Soviet and in the years following the fall of the Soviet system, the Russian film industry would remain internationally recognised...
, which differentiates it from cinematic developments in the rest of Asia.
History
It is assumed that the first cinematographic performances in MongoliaMongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
happened between 1903 and 1913, as private events for the prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren and the Jebtsundamba
Jebtsundamba
The Khalkha Jebtsundamba Khutuktus were the spiritual heads of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. They also held the title of Bogd Gegeen, making them the top-ranked lamas in Mongolia.- History :...
in the capital Urga.
After the socialist revolution, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
The Mongolian People's Party formerly the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party is an ex-communist political party in Mongolia. The party is abbreviated MPP in English and ' in Mongolian...
decided in its fifth congress of 1925 to use movies as an instrument of mass education. From 1926 on, mobile projection facilities would regularly show Soviet films to the Mongolian people. The first permanent cinema "Ard" opened in the capital (now named Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
) in 1934. Eventually, every aimag
Aimags of Mongolia
Mongolia is divided into 21 aimags . Each aimag is subdivided into several sums. The name aimag is derived from the Mongolian and Turkic languages word for "tribe". The modern aimags were established since 1921...
center would have fixed cinemas, and every sums of Mongolia or negdel
Negdel
Negdel is the common term for the agricultural cooperatives in the Mongolian People's Republic. The full name is Khödöö aj axuin negdel .- Early attempts :...
would have a mobile cinema. In the 1990s, many cinemas, fixed and mobile alike, closed down or reduced activities.
Mongol Kino
The national film studios, Mongol Kino, were founded in 1935, with Soviet technical assistance. Their first productions were a documentary on the "47th anniversary of the 1st May" and a fictional story named A Mongol son (Mongol Khüü) directed by the Russian Ilya TraubergIlya Trauberg
Ilya Trauberg was an Russian director born in Odessa on December 13, 1905 who died in Berlin on December 18, 1948.- Director :* 1927 : Léningrad aujourd'hui - Documentaire...
. The first Mongolian-directed movie was the black-and-white short feature Norjmaa's Destiny (Norjmaagiin Zam) by Temet Natsagdorj in 1938.
From then on, the Mongolian movie production focused around heroic revolutionary propaganda and ancient popular legends, still often under Russian direction. This program was very successful with movies like Sükhbaatar (1942) and Tsogt Taij (1945). The studios of Mongol Kino also produced documentaries and current news reports.
1950s and 1960s
After WWII, the party moved the focus on working class heroes, reflected in movies like New Year (Shine Jil, 1954) by Tseveeny Zandraa. Examples of this genre are Awakening (Serelt, 1957) by S. Genden and The Rejected Girl (Gologdson khüükhen) by Dendevyn Chimid-Osor. In 1955, the first musical comedy appeared, which started a trend that continued into the 1960s. The first colour movie was The Golden Yurt (Altan Örgöö, 1961), based on a folk tale. It was produced in cooperation with the East GermanGerman Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
DEFA studios. The music of the film, written by L. Mördorj, was played and recorded by the GDR Radio orchestra and became a classic of the Mongolian symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
. As a fairy tale film, it is rich with match moving
Match moving
In cinematography, match moving is a visual-effects, cinematic techniques that allows the insertion of computer graphics into live-action footage with correct position, scale, orientation, and motion relative to the photographed objects in the shot...
and other special effects of cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
.
1970s and 1980s
While the production of documentaries increased, the fictional stories turned to everyday life in the 1970s. One of the most famous movies of that time, The Clear Tamir (Tungalag Tamir, 1970) by Ravjagiin Dorjpalam, based on the novel by Chadraabalyn LodoidambaChadraabalyn Lodoidamba
Chadraabalyn Lodoidamba was a Mongolian writer.He was born in Govi-Altai Province in 1917. In 1954 he graduated from National University of Mongolia, the same year that his first story "Malgaitai Chono" was published....
, is however set during Mongolia's 1921 revolution. Other well-known productions were "The Legend of the Mother Oasis" ("Ehe Bürdiin domog"), made in 1976 by Gombojav Jigjidsuren (Гомбожавын Жигжидсүрэн) and Jamyangiin Buntar (Жамъяангийн Бунтар), and The Five Colors of the Rainbow (Solongiin tavan öngö) in 1979. The Leading Wrestler Garuda
Garuda
The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...
(Garid Magnai, 1983) by Jamyangiin Buntar marks a turning point, where the authors liberate themselves from the existing power structures.
1990s and 2000s
After the introduction of market economy, most mobile and permanent cinemas closed down. Mongolian productions had to seek partners outside of the former COMECONComecon
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance , 1949–1991, was an economic organisation under hegemony of Soviet Union comprising the countries of the Eastern Bloc along with a number of communist states elsewhere in the world...
. However, some young filmmakers of the transformation period, such as N. Gankhuyag, B. Uranchimeg, J. Binder, made domestic success films.
The movie "Genghis Khan, Under Power of the Eternal Sky", starring Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren
Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren
Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren , is a Mongolian music composer and film maker who studied in Russia. He is the director of the film A Pearl in the Forest.-Filmography:*2003 Khan Khentii Mountain...
was the first Mongolian-Japanese co-production. State of Dogs
State of Dogs
State of Dogs is a Mongolian movie that was released in 1998, directed and written by Peter Brosens and Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh. The film was shown at the 1998 Venice Film Festival, the 1998 Toronto Film Festival, the 1999 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, and won the Grand Prix at...
(Nokhoin Oron, 1998) was written and directed collaboratively by the Belgian Peter Brosens and the Mongolian Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh.
The director Byambasuren Davaa
Byambasuren Davaa
Byambasuren Davaa, really Davaagiin Byambasüren , is a Mongolian film maker currently residing in Germany....
has had international success with the German-Mongolian co-productions The Story of the Weeping Camel
The Story of the Weeping Camel
The Story of the Weeping Camel is a 2003 German docudrama distributed by ThinkFilm. It was released internationally in 2004. The movie was directed and written by Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni. The plot is about a family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi desert trying to save the life of a...
(2003, nominated for an Academy Award as foreign documentary in 2005) and The Cave of the Yellow Dog
The Cave of the Yellow Dog
The Cave of the Yellow Dog is a Mongolian/German film written and directed by Byambasuren Davaa. The film was submitted as Mongolia's contender for the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film...
(2005).
Elsnii Nuudel , was a successful movie produced for the domestic market in 2007. Later known films are Iim negen durlal, Goyoliin Daashinz etc.
The 2008 historical film A Pearl in the Forest
A Pearl in the Forest
A Pearl in the Forest is a 2008 Mongolian historical film.This is a story about a young couple whose newly planned life was destroyed by the impact of the Great Purges of 1934–1938 in Mongolia....
by director Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren
Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren
Enkhtaivan Agvaantseren , is a Mongolian music composer and film maker who studied in Russia. He is the director of the film A Pearl in the Forest.-Filmography:*2003 Khan Khentii Mountain...
is one of the first films to openly talk about events of the 1930s and the impact of the rise of Soviet communism on Mongolia. It is also one of the first films intended to present the history of the Buryats
Buryats
The Buryats or Buriyads , numbering approximately 436,000, are the largest ethnic minority group in Siberia and are mainly concentrated in their homeland, the Buryat Republic, a federal subject of Russia...
, one of the ethnic groups present in Mongolia.
See also
- Cinema of the world
- List of Mongolian films
- Culture of MongoliaCulture of MongoliaMongolian culture has been heavily influenced by the Mongol nomadic way of life. Other important influences are from Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, and from China. Since the 20th century, Russian and, via Russia, European culture have had a strong effect on Mongolia...
- Cinema of Asia