State of Dogs
| State of Dogs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Peter Brosens, Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh |
| Produced by | Peter Brosens (Inti Films), Jan Ewout Ruiter (Balthazar Film), Kristiina Pervila |
| Written by | Peter Brosens, Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh |
| Starring | Nyam Dagyrantz, Baatar Galsansukh, Purevdavaa Oyungerel, Jamyansuren Oyunstingel |
| Narrated by | Maria von Heland |
| Music by | Charo Calvo |
| Cinematography | Heiki Färm, Sakhya Byamba |
Release dates | 1998 |
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Language | Mongolian |
State of Dogs (Mongolian: Нохойн орон, alternately Nokhoin Oron) is a Mongolian movie that was released in 1998, directed and written by Peter Brosens and Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh. The film was shown at the 1998 Venice Film Festival,[1] the 1998 Toronto Film Festival,[1] the 1999 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival,[2] and won the Grand Prix at the 1998 Visions du Réel film festival in Nyon, Switzerland.[1]
Synopsis
Set in Mongolia's capital city, Ulan Bator, the film combines documentary elements with fictional elements[3] in the fragmented, impressionistic and dreamlike story of Baasar, a dog who dies early in the movie — shot by a hunter employed by the city to reduce its dog population, which has more than one dog for each four humans in its population of 800,000.[4]
According to Mongolian legend, a dog (who is prepared) may be reincarnated in its next life as a human, after roaming free for as long as he wants.[5] Baasar roams the memory of his life, uninterested in advancing to a human life.[2]
The film includes brief interludes with a solar eclipse, a segment in which a young man recites poems directly to the camera, and a depiction of modern Mongolian life with undercurrents of mysticism and myth.[4]
Cultural influence
Garth Stein, American author and film producer, was inspired by State of Dogs to write his best selling novel The Art of Racing in the Rain.[6]
Awards
- "Grand Prix", Visions du Réel, Nyon
- "Grand Prix", Graz Biennale für Medien und Architektur
- "Grand Prix", Maremma Doc Festival, in Tuscany
- "Grand Prix" & "Special Jury Award", SEIA, Portugal
- "Critics Award", São Paulo International Film Festival
- "Best Documentary", Molodist International Film Festival, Kiev
- "FICC Prize", Molodist International Film Festival, Kiev
- "Don Quixote Award," Molodist International Film Festival
- "Best Film Award", Molodist International Film Festival
- "Best Feature Film Award", Gavà International Environmental Film Festival
- "Best Script Award", Györ MediaWave International Festival of Visual Arts, Hungary
- "Special Jury Award", St. Petersburg Message to Man Film Festival
- “Critics Award,” Bodrum Environmental International Film Festival
- “Mention Spéciale du Jury” Strasbourg Semaine du Documentaire de Création Européen
- “European Lianas for Best Documentary” New European Talent 98, Barcelona
- “Silver Award” World Festival of Human and Nature Films, Korea
- “Fonske” KFL (Katholieke Filmliga)
References
- 1 2 3 "State of Dogs (1998)". The New York Times.
- 1 2 "State of Dogs". Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.
- ↑ "Die Like a Dog, A lauded Mongolian film probes a mongrel's soul". Time Magazine, Leah Kohlenberg, January 25, 1999. January 25, 1999.
- 1 2 "State of Dogs". Yahoo Movies.
- ↑ "Bestselling author discusses work ‘from a dog’s point of view’". Carmel Valley News, Karen Billing.
- ↑ "AUTHOR TALK: Garth Stein". Bookreporter.com, May 16, 2008.