Plot Summary:
The film follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old Kazakh girl from Mongolia, as she trains to become the first female eagle hunter in twelve generations of her family. Set against the breathtaking expanse of the Mongolian steppe, the documentary captures her journey to compete in the annual Golden Eagle Festival and her rise within this male-dominated tradition.
Director: Otto Bell
Director: Otto Bell
Starring:
Aisholpan Nurgaiv as Herself
Rys Nurgaiv as Himself
Daisy Ridley as Narrator
***SPOILER ALERT***
Mixed Feelings and Authenticity Concerns
Ok, it seems I got a bit derailed on my trip to Kazakhstan, and today I ended up in Mongolia. But, we are following a Kazakh family that's been into eagle hunting for 12 generations. (I only know three generations before me in my family! Such white trash). Eagle hunting is amazing and unbelievable. But what's really unbelievable is this movie. Towards the middle, I started getting fishy vibes that began to ruin it for me. This documentary feels partially fake and like a big publicity stunt. Everything is just too perfect for a cameraman to catch, especially during the hunting scene. And about Aisholpan being the first female eagle hunter, a quick look into Wikipedia reveals that's not entirely true. So, I have really mixed feelings about this story. Did she really break a speed record? Was that gold genuine? Or did it just happen because Otto Bell wanted to make a movie empowering women, inspired by Sia's song "Unstoppable"? I feel like someone is tricking me, and I hate that. And Mr. Otto, that song is really lame to use in this movie. Some throat singing would be way better.
Cinematography and Cultural Highlights
But let's focus on the positives now. The cinematography is stunning: the eagles, the costumes, the people, and the deserted land surrounded by the Altai mountains are all captured beautifully. The fighting scene between the eagle and the fox is pretty epic, though I bet PETA doesn't approve of this movie. What these nomadic tribes have accomplished with their eagle training—the art and beauty involved—makes me forgive the fact that they snatch eagle babies from their mothers. And I had no idea a three-month-old golden eagle already looks huge! Another thing that comes to mind every time I see Mongolia, a place that looks like such a deserted place, is how the hell did that crazy Genghis Khan come out of there and almost conquer the whole world? Pretty crazy stuff.
Final Thoughts and Personal Reflections
Anyway, I haven't much to say about this movie because I felt fooled. I would have enjoyed this more if it wasn't a documentary. Don't mistake me for one of those misogynist old guys who think women belong in the kitchen milking cows (that's what they do in their Mongolian kitchens π). It's just that everything is too perfect to be believable. That also made for a boring movie in the end. It's worth it for the images and scenery of the eagle hunters, but I wouldn't show this movie to my daughters with the intention of making them believe in themselves because I would feel like I was tricking them. I can smell bullshit from a long distance, from Portugal to Mongolia. Another good outcome from the movie is that it would be a dream for me to one day travel to Mongolia and experience a golden eagle festival live. That would be amazing, and if you want to sponsor that, here's my PayPal email: freddyscineit@gmail.com. Nice try, Freddy.
π₯ Cinematography (10/10):
The eagles, costumes, people, and the deserted land surrounded by the Altai mountains are captured beautifully. The visuals are stunning.
π Story (3/10):
The story has potential but feels undermined by the perceived inauthenticity. The narrative's empowering message is overshadowed by doubts about its truthfulness.
π¬ Direction (4/10):
Otto Bell's direction effectively captures the cultural aspects of eagle hunting but feels too staged at times, which detracts from the documentary's credibility.
π₯ Characters (5/10):
Aisholpan and her family are compelling subjects, but the portrayal feels a bit too perfect, raising questions about authenticity.
π₯ Visual Effects (N/A):
Not applicable. 5 points to balance it out.
π Acting (5/10):
Not applicable. 5 points to balance it out.
π¬ Dialogue (5/10):
Little girl wants to do man's stuff, big man says no. Girl does it anyway, and wins. Hurray! That's it.
π Setting/Atmosphere (10/10):
The stunning landscapes of Mongolia and the cultural richness of eagle hunting are beautifully depicted.
π΅ Music (4/10):
Drums driven music = good. Pop music = bad.
π Entertainment Value (5/10):
The film is visually impressive but falls short on authenticity, making it less engaging. It feels more like a staged event than a genuine documentary.
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