City of Wind
In this quietly told Mongolian drama from debut filmmaker Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir, a 17-year-old shaman is in for a world-changing shift, one that pits his traditional customs with the allure of modern society, when he becomes enamored with a peer who needs heart surgery.
In Director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir’s feature debut City of Wind, a spiritual shaman is a crucial member of the community, the one who everyone depends on when in need of moral and spiritual guidance. But what happens when that shaman is a 17-year-old high school student named Ze who must balance his profound spiritual responsibilities while also juggling another life—that of a high school student—working hard to succeed and even fall in love in the cold, callous society of modern Mongolia? Majestic landscapes are captured through striking, wide screen framing in City of Wind, transporting the viewer to a familiar yet specific coming of age narrative. This beautifully constructed film is like a carefully tended flame that spreads a little circle of light and warmth in the world's coldest capital. Buoyed by Tergel Bold-Erdene’s subtle but endearing performance as Ze, Director Purev-Ochir provides a blunt, honest, completely frank portrayal of Ze's life and its contradictions. Neon club nights, first love, and intergenerational spirits clash in this deeply felt and thoughtful coming-of-age drama, reflecting not just the struggles of one teenager but that of a nation.
—Eden Sapir
- Original Language Title: Ser Ser Salhi
- Director: Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir
- Principal Cast: Tergel Bold-Erdene, Nomin-Erdene Ariunbyamba, Anu-Ujin Tsermaa, Bulgan Chuluunbat, Ganzorig Tsetsgee
- Country: Mongolia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar
- Year: 2023
- Running Time: 103 min.
- Producer: Katia Khazak, Charlotte Vincent
- Screenplay: Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir
- Cinematographers: Vasco Viana
- Editors: Matthieu Taponier
- Music: Vasco Mendonça
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Venice Film Festival 2023 (Best Actor, Orizzonti Competition), Pingyao International Film Festival 2023 (Best Director)
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: Mongolian
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- International Sales: Best Friend Forever