Philm Club Series - Environments and Cultures - Khadak (Mongolia, 2006)

Type: 
Film Screening
Audience: 
Open to the Public
Building: 
Zrinyi u. 14
Room: 
412
Friday, May 24, 2013 - 6:00pm
Add to Calendar
Date: 
Friday, May 24, 2013 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm

The CEU Department of Philosophy cordially invites you to the next
screening of its Philm Club on Environments and Cultures.

The Philm Club series entitled Environments and Cultures focuses on the
complex, often tense relationship and interaction that different people
have with their natural or built environments. The common thread of the
selected films is that in all of them the environment plays a leading
role, refuses to function as a mere background for human dramas, and
becomes an obtrusive presence on its own right, a force not to be messed
with. How do specific environments influence the cultures emerging
within? How do established cultural habits change environments? Where
can we draw the line between us and nature, or should we draw it at all?
What is wilderness and how should we relate to it?

This week's film examines the effects of the transition from traditional ways of life and production to industrialized living.

KHADAK (Mongolia, 2006)
Directed by:Pete rBrosens, Jessica Woodworth
Mongolian with English subtitles, 104 min.

A true work of art. An emotional journey that captures the soul
of Mongolian culture and tradition while posing important questions on
the dilemma facing traditional Mongolian values by the destruction of
Mongolians most precious treasures, their land and the animals.
Nomadic herders are being forced to abandon their homes due to a"plague"
outbreak among animals. Despite their own herds being healthy, the family
who is the focus of the beginning of the film are forcibly moved to a
mining town, where their son Bagi, who has shamanic visions of
his ancestors is forced to work for a pittance. The only food available
seems to be potatoes, but there appears to be meat available on the black
market, and this feeds speculation that the clearances were not motivated
by animal sickness after all. Bagi is arrested and while in the detention
center meets a group of young activists who want to rebel against their
unlawful imprisonment, and tofree the animals they know are still alive.
The song they perform is a high point of the film,and adds to an already
excellent score and soundtrack.
The film portrays people against the bleak background of the
steppes where they've lived for centuries and the shoddy, differently
bleak living complex and mining facility to where they've been relocated.
The tension created is quite striking. (imdb.com)

Screening: Friday, May 24, 6 P.M., Zrinyi 14, room 412.

Find out more on our blog: http://philmclub.wordpress.com/.