Watch Trails Across the Steppe

Trails Across the Steppe is a beautiful and emotional film from Mongolia, released in 2014. Directed by Tumenbileg Davaa, the movie follows the journey of a young girl named Nansal, who lives with her family in a traditional nomadic lifestyle on the vast grasslands of Mongolia. The movie starts with Nansal and her family packing up their household and leaving their winter camp, to move to their summer camp. As they traverse the beautiful Mongolian landscape, the audience is given a glimpse of the beauty and vastness of the Mongolian steppe. The opening shots of the movie are breathtaking, with golden grasslands stretching as far as the eye can see, dotted with small herds of horses and yaks.

As Nansal and her family settle into their summer camp, the audience is introduced to the everyday life of the nomads. We see Nansal helping her mother with household chores, playing with her siblings, and taking care of the family's animals. The movie does an excellent job of portraying the simplicity and beauty of the nomadic lifestyle, and the strong bond between the family members.

However, the movie takes a somewhat darker turn when a group of horse thieves enter the picture. The horse thieves steal some of the family's prized horses, and Nansal's father sets out to track them down. The second half of the movie follows Nansal's father as he travels across the steppe, searching for the stolen horses.

Throughout the movie, we see the impact of modernity on the nomadic lifestyle, with Nansal's family using a motorcycle and a truck to transport their belongings. The movie also touches on the loss of traditional knowledge and values, as Nansal's mother struggles to teach her daughter the old ways, while also trying to ensure that she receives a modern education.

The acting in the movie is excellent, especially considering that most of the cast are non-professional actors. Gerelt-Od Bayaraa delivers a nuanced and emotional performance as Nansal's father, capturing the complexities of his role as a provider and protector. Usukhbayar Dandar also gives an excellent performance as Nansal's grandfather, who serves as one of the moral compasses of the movie. Oyunchimeg Dulamsuren is charming and endearing as Nansal, bringing a youthful innocence and joy to the movie.

One of the standout features of Trails Across the Steppe is its stunning cinematography. The movie was shot on location in Mongolia, and the cinematography captures the beauty and majesty of the steppe in all its glory. The vast landscapes are breathtaking, and the movie makes excellent use of the natural light to create a variety of moods and tones.

Another notable feature of Trails Across the Steppe is its use of traditional Mongolian music. The movie features a beautiful score, composed by renowned Mongolian musician Uuganbaatar Tsend-Ochir. The music is soulful and emotive, perfectly complementing the movie's visuals and themes.

Overall, Trails Across the Steppe is a poignant and lovely movie that explores themes of tradition, modernity, family, and humanity. The movie is a testament to the beauty and resilience of the nomadic way of life and serves as a reminder of the fragility of our planet's natural beauty. If you are a fan of international cinema or just looking for a heartfelt and beautifully shot movie, Trails Across the Steppe is definitely worth checking out.