The Cave of the Yellow Dog (2006) - At The Movies Review

The Cave Of The Yellow Dog

In THE CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG, The Batchuluun family, his wife, 6-year-old Nansal and baby brother Batbayar - are shepherds who spend the summers living in their yurt in a mountainous region of Mongolia.

When the precocious Nansal discovers a dog living in a cave she decides to keep it as a pet, though her father fears it may have made contact with the wolves that prowl the area.

When Dad goes off to the city to buy supplies, Nansal is assigned to guard the herd. With the onset of winter, the family prepares to leave for warmer climes.

Byambasuren Davaa, the co-director of the utterly delightful THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL, has made a follow-up which also features non-professional actors living under the vast Mongolian skies.

THE CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG isn't strictly speaking a documentary, because it has a story arc and the non-actors were coached in following that narrative, but nor is it a conventional feature. And, despite the plucky charms of young Nansal, it's not on the same emotional level as WEEPING CAMEL.

The wondrous photography by Daniel Schoenauer evocatively captures this bleak and imposing landscape and the film is filled with fascinating detail - how to dismantle a yurt, for instance.

And there are moments of suspense, too, as Nansal loses her way or her brother is threatened by the ominous vultures that hover over these hard-working human beings.

Set in a timeless landscape where the outside world hardly intrudes, THE CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG is a film for lovers of the exotic.

DAVID: Margaret.

MARGARET: It is, and especially for people who want to know how to dismantle a yurt. I feel this is essential information in this day and age.

But it's wonderful, the way it's put together. I think that was a truly fascinating part of the film.

That shot with the vultures, as you said, where the dog races to save the kid, I mean it's just an unbelievable shot. The film does look wonderful.

DAVID: Yes.

MARGARET: But I think it just verges on being too cute, you know, the little sweet kitty poos and the little sweet puppy dog and, you know, you, sort of I really do react against that notion of cuteness and it being exploited.

DAVID: I know what you mean because it is kind of compared to Weeping Camel, which was a bit tarter, this is rather a rose coloured look.

MARGARET: Yes.

DAVID: But, still, it's a fascinating one.

MARGARET: It is. It's a very interesting way of life and I'm quite glad I don't live in it, to tell you the truth.

DAVID: We're agreeing tonight.