State of Dogs

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 International 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]

State of Dogs
Nohoin Oron
Directed byPeter Brosens
Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh
Produced byPeter Brosens (Inti Films)
Jan Ewout Ruiter (Balthazar Film)
Kristiina Pervila
Alok Nandi I
Written byPeter Brosens
Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh
StarringNyam Dagyrantz
Baatar Galsansukh
Purevdavaa Oyungerel
Jamyansuren Oyunstingel
Narrated byMaria von Heland
Music byCharo Calvo
CinematographyHeiki Färm
Sakhya Byamba
Release date
  • December 7, 1998 (1998-12-07)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryMongolia
LanguageMongolian

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. "State of Dogs (1998)". The New York Times.
  2. "State of Dogs". Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.
  3. "Die Like a Dog, A lauded Mongolian film probes a mongrel's soul". Time Magazine, Leah Kohlenberg, January 25, 1999. January 25, 1999.
  4. "State of Dogs". Yahoo Movies.
  5. "Bestselling author discusses work 'from a dog's point of view'". Carmel Valley News, Karen Billing.
  6. "AUTHOR TALK: Garth Stein". Bookreporter.com, May 16, 2008.
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