Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir’s first film – The Hollywood Reporter

The young people of Mongolia are caught between centuries of tradition and the demands of the modern world City of Windthe new film and first full-length feature from award-winning short film director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir (Snow in September, Mountain cat).

The film, which premiered in Venice and is screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, follows the relationship between Ze, a 17-year-old gentle Mongolian shaman, and Maralaa, a young woman who takes him from his world into the world, which for him is a strange urban world of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

Debutant Tergel Bold-Erdene, who plays Ze, won the best actor award for the Venice Horizons sidebar for his performance. In an exclusive first trailer for the film (watch below), viewers follow Ze as he moves between the ancient spiritual traditions of his homeland and the barrage of the modern world. Nomin-Erdene Ariunbyamba plays Maralaa. Tsend-Ayush Nyamsuren, Ganzorig Tsetsgee and Bulgan Chuluunbat play the main roles. The idea for the film came to Purev-Ochir after taking part in a traditional shamanic ritual.

“I was waiting outside the apartment after the ritual and a young man, younger than me, came out – with tattoos on both arms and a shiny earring – and he took out his phone and started playing a video,” Purev -Ochir said recalls. “And that was the shaman! I immediately saw the first images of the film, the story of a shaman who peels off his mask to reveal this young man behind the old spirit.”

After his triumphant debut in Venice City of Wind arrives in Toronto, where Purev-Ochir was last year Snow in September won the top prize for Best Film at the TIFF Short Cuts Awards.

Best Friend Forever is sold City of Wind worldwide.

Check out the trailer below.