The Story of the weeping camel (Die Geschichte vom weinenden Kamel)

Springtime in the Gobi Desert, South Mongolia. A family of nomadic shepherds assists the births of their camel herd. One of the camels has an excruciatingly difficult delivery but, with help from the family, out comes a rare white calf. Despite the efforts of the shepherds, the mother rejects the newborn, coldly refusing it her milk and her motherly love. When any hope for the little one seems to have vanished, the nomads send their two young boys on a journey through the desert, in search of a musician… Finally a violinist is summoned to the camp and a breathtaking ritual is performed. "The Story of the Weeping Camel" is both authentic and moving. The leading roles for the mother and baby camel certainly deserve the Oscar for the best animal roles. The shots of a desert storm in the majestic landscape make it clear just how difficult circumstances were for working. However amazing the ritual may be, for Mongolian nomads it is (still) a normal course of events. At the same time, the film subtly shows the advance of modernisation.