Denmark / Sweden / France / Mongolia 2023, 85 min, Mongolian, Hebrew & English subtitles
The world may still associate Mongolia with Genghis Khan, but the history of this vast and desolate country is rooted in countless years of humiliation, exploitation, and dispossession at the hands of its powerful neighbors. Gerel, a woman driven by nationalist ideas and a hatred for the Chinese, is determined to preserve the purity of the Mongolian race. To this end, she starts an organization that raids brothels and “liberates” the women working there, publicly shaming them in the process. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Gerel does not fit neatly into the villain role. A single mother who tragically lost her husband and struggles to raise her son, she comes to realize that her chosen path does not lead to salvation. This impactful and impressive documentary, the result of seven years of research and filming, paints a complex picture—both of Mongolia and the film’s subjects.
Sponsored by Geographical Tours
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