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The Cave of the Yellow Dog

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by Kerry McLeod
This melodic and beautifully observed drama-documentary is the second feature from Byambasuran Davaa, director of the equally remarkable and Oscar-nominated The Story of the Weeping Camel. Davaa returns to her native Mongolia to craft a classic tale of the bond between man and dog and simultaneously document the changes within its traditional nomadic community.

Nansaa, a young girl recently returned home from school, finds a puppy while out collecting fuel for her mother. Her father is wary of the dog, suspicious that it will bring trouble to their already troubled existence, and orders Nansaa to take it away. At first she stubbornly defies his wishes, but after several rather comical attempts to conceal the dog from her father’s presence he catches the dog and ties it up, leaving it behind when they pack up to move on from their summer home. The scene as Nansaa prepares to leave her beloved pet could be worthy of a Disney movie, yet it somehow avoids the schmaltz to remain simply moving. It ultimately falls to a timely act of heroism on the part of the dog to convince the father that he isn’t a bad omen.

Nansaa’s father worries about their future, when so many other Nomad families are leaving their traditional ways of life and taking jobs in the city. His concerns are exacerbated by the increasing attacks by wolves on their livestock, and echoed in the green plastic ladle that he presents his wife with on his return from a trip to town; she leaves it in a hot pan and the plastic melts. The moment is significant in highlighting the disparities between their way of life and the march of modernisation taking place in the city.

The film unfolds as an acutely observed documentary, intercutting the action with scenes of everyday life and ritual, largely seen through the figure of the mother as she goes about her work and makes daily offerings and prayers. A peaceful, wise and strong presence, she becomes the centre of the film’s universe, echoing the prayer of thanks that she and her husband make to Mother Earth as they leave their summer camping ground.

Davaa’s scripting is sublime – unobtrusive and sparse, it rarely strays from feeling like a documentary. The same can be said for Daniel Schoenauer’s photography and Sarah Clara Weber’s editing. The performances from the family are, without exception, moving. Young Nansaa is especially beguiling and even the dog – who picked up the Palm Dog award in Cannes last year for his troubles – is a winner.

For a second feature, and from someone who is still finishing her studies (at the Munich Academy for Television and Film) this is a remarkable achievement and surely heralds a new talent in world cinema.

The Cave of the Yellow Dog (Die Höhle des gelben Hundes)
Germany/ Mongolia 2005, 90 mins
Dir. Byambasuran Davaa
Cast: Urjindorj Batchuluun, Buyandulam Daramdadi Batchuluun, Nansal Batchuluun, Nansalmaa Batchuluun, Batbayar Batchuluun

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