A Mongolian Tale
Encyclopedia
A Mongolian Tale is a 1995 Chinese film directed by Xie Fei
and adapted by the novelist and ethnographer Zhang Chengzhi
from his novel, Black Steed.
As Beiyinpalica (now played by the Mongolian pop singer Tengger
) is about to enter adulthood, his father suddenly writes and orders him into the city to study veterinary science. He leaves but promises Someyer that he will marry her when he returns. While in the city, Beiyinpalica also becomes a student of music. When he returns three years later, he discovers that Someyer (now played by Naranhua) has become pregnant by another man. Heartbroken, he leaves once more.
Twelve years later, Beiyinpalica has become a celebrated folk singer
. Someyer, meanwhile, has born four sons and one daughter, though she is generally neglected by her drunken husband. Back home, Beiyinpalica suddenly finds himself in the position of being a father-figure for the girl.
found the film generally "lightweight" but nevertheless "beautifully made." Its premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival
would also not go unnoticed, with the film garnering Xie Fei a best director award, and Tengger a special award for musical contribution.
Upon its general release, A Mongolian Tale generated positive press not only for its performances, but for its setting. One review, from the San Francisco Chronicle noted that the film's setting had a "grandeur all its own." That did not stop the reviewer from finding the film a "compelling romance in a land whose hard realities never yield to anything so insignificant as human dreams." Janet Maslin
of The New York Times, while generally positive in her review, singled out the actress Dalarsurong in her role as Nai Nai as "eas[ing] into the radiant role of this film's endlessly wise foster grandmother."
Xie Fei (director)
Xie Fei is a world-recognized Chinese film director. Xie was born in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province.A graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, Xie has also taught at his alma mater as a vice-president of that institution.-Selected films:-External links:...
and adapted by the novelist and ethnographer Zhang Chengzhi
Zhang Chengzhi
Zhang Chengzhi is a contemporary Hui Chinese author. Often named as the most influential Muslim writer in China, his historical narrative History of the Soul, about the rise of the Jahriyya Sufi order , was the second-most popular book in China in 1994.-Biography:Zhang was born in Beijing in 1948...
from his novel, Black Steed.
Plot
A Mongolian Tale tells the story of two childhood sweethearts from their youth into their adulthood as set on the Mongolian steppes. Nai Nai (Dalarsurong), an old Mongolian woman is living with her orphaned granddaughter, Someyer, when she accepts into her home a boy, Beiyinpalica, whose mother has died and father cannot care for. Though raised as a brother and sister, Somiya and Beiyinpalica grow close.As Beiyinpalica (now played by the Mongolian pop singer Tengger
Tengger (singer)
Tengger, also known as Tenger , is a popular Mongol singer, a songwriter and a composer. He was born in Otog Banner, Inner Mongolia, China in Sainbayar family....
) is about to enter adulthood, his father suddenly writes and orders him into the city to study veterinary science. He leaves but promises Someyer that he will marry her when he returns. While in the city, Beiyinpalica also becomes a student of music. When he returns three years later, he discovers that Someyer (now played by Naranhua) has become pregnant by another man. Heartbroken, he leaves once more.
Twelve years later, Beiyinpalica has become a celebrated folk singer
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
. Someyer, meanwhile, has born four sons and one daughter, though she is generally neglected by her drunken husband. Back home, Beiyinpalica suddenly finds himself in the position of being a father-figure for the girl.
Cast
- TinggerTengger (singer)Tengger, also known as Tenger , is a popular Mongol singer, a songwriter and a composer. He was born in Otog Banner, Inner Mongolia, China in Sainbayar family....
as Beiyinpalica, the main male protagonist, Tengger is a popular singer and contributed to the film's score, which was composed primarily of Mongolian folk songs. - Naranhua as Someyer, the main female protagonist, the actress Naranhua had previously starred in Xie's A Girl from HunanA Girl from HunanA Girl from Hunan is a 1986 Chinese drama film directed by Xie Fei and U Lan. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, and was one of the first mainland Chinese films to be commercially screened in the United States...
. - Dalarsurong as Nai Nai, the kindly grandmother who takes in both her orphaned granddaughter, and the unwanted Beiyinpalica. Dalarsuong was a veteran Mongolian actress at the time of the filming, having already acted for nearly fifty years.
International reception
Though a simple film of love and loss, A Mongolian Tale was praised by Western critics, who saw virtue in the film's simplicity. In an early review, VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
found the film generally "lightweight" but nevertheless "beautifully made." Its premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival
Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
would also not go unnoticed, with the film garnering Xie Fei a best director award, and Tengger a special award for musical contribution.
Upon its general release, A Mongolian Tale generated positive press not only for its performances, but for its setting. One review, from the San Francisco Chronicle noted that the film's setting had a "grandeur all its own." That did not stop the reviewer from finding the film a "compelling romance in a land whose hard realities never yield to anything so insignificant as human dreams." Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin is an American journalist, best known as a film and literary critic for The New York Times. She served as the Times film critic from 1977–1999.- Biography :...
of The New York Times, while generally positive in her review, singled out the actress Dalarsurong in her role as Nai Nai as "eas[ing] into the radiant role of this film's endlessly wise foster grandmother."