Weeping Camel, The

This visually-enchanting, unique film is part drama, part nature documentary and part cultural study. It weaves a magical tale about a Mongolian family striving to reunite a rejected baby camel with its mother...
It is springtime and a family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert assist in the births of their camel herd. One of the camels has an excruciatingly difficult delivery but, with help from the family, gives birth to a rare white calf.

When the mother camel refuses to sustain her child, the family attempts to reunite them using a ritual involving folk music and chanting. Their efforts cause the mother camel to weep real tears.

In exploring ancient ritual, this film captures the majesty of a threatened way of life.

Synopsis

Springtime in the Gobi Desert, South Mongolia. A family of nomadic shepherds assists with the births of their camel herd. One of the camels has an excruciatingly difficult delivery, but 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 traditional violinist is summoned to the camp and a breathtaking ritual is performed.