As a cinema devotee who has spent a significant part of my life traversing through the labyrinthine world of global cinematography, I can confidently say that “If Only I Could Hibernate” is a film that resonates deeply with me. Having had the fortune to grow up in relative comfort, I can only imagine the weight Ulzii bears on his young shoulders – a burden that’s made even heavier by his dreams and ambitions.
Our dreams can only be as expansive as our circumstances. To have ambitions requires the ability to imagine a way out of your present. That can be a difficult task if much of your existence is spent merely trying to make it through the day. If, as it happens for Ulzii (Battsooj Uurtsaikh), the young man at the heart of Zoljargal Purevdash’s wondrous “If Only I Could Hibernate,” you have to worry about caring for your siblings and being able to afford coal to heat the yurt you reside in. As the film beautifully (and heartbreakingly) traces, sometimes even just daring to dream big — let alone bigger — can feel like a burden.
Just as many elders brothers have done in the past, Ulzii has assumed the role of leader within his family due to circumstances. With his father no longer present and a mother battling alcohol issues, it falls on him to maintain the household – or rather, the yurt. This necessitates that he balances his school studies (grasping physics effortlessly) with ensuring his siblings are fed, clothed, and cared for, often resorting to selling his personal belongings to compensate for the money his mother loses.
Each day, city life – which they had grown comfortable with – seems progressively more costly and challenging for him and his family. When his mother secures a job back in the countryside and his teacher encourages him to participate in a physics competition offering a scholarship opportunity, Ulzii finds himself stretched to his limits.
In a familiar narrative vein, “If Only I Could Hibernate” seems like a recurring theme: a rite-of-passage story about a hardworking yet economically disadvantaged teenager who struggles to carve out his own path, balancing the need to support his family with personal aspirations. However, Ulzii’s journey transcends the screen in captivating and refreshing manners, largely due to Purevdash’s effective portrayal of a distinct and immersive setting.
Located on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, this film explores life in the peripheries – the communities and individuals who seem perpetually on the edge. It’s a story that delves into the harshness of more than just geographical isolation, but also the biting cold that can test even the strongest hearts. The title, borrowing a line from within the film itself (which suggests it would be simpler to be a bear and avoid winter), underscores this movie’s exploration of the unyielding power of winter – a drama so intense, at times you can almost feel the icy gusts against your own face.
However, this isn’t a somber or gloomy storyline. Instead, it’s filled with a whimsical humor that permeates throughout. Purevdash finds delight in simple moments, such as when we see the siblings engaging in a playful game to determine who will ask a store owner if they have any spare cardboard boxes. Despite the challenging situations faced by Ulzii and his siblings, “If Only I Could Hibernate” refuses to dwell in despair. The film maintains an uplifting tone thanks to Purevdash’s dialogue and Johanni Curtet’s adaptable score, which effortlessly expands and contracts with remarkable grace and elegance.
The movie gains a lot from Uurtsaikh’s restrained central acting. Despite the fact that Ulzii is usually seen in winter garb and has a frosty demeanor, it’s surprising how effectively Uurtsaikh portrays the fears that dominate the young man’s life. There’s an enigmatic quality to his eyes, which leaves his teacher, mother, and neighbors questioning his true state and pondering why he refuses to seek help openly.
Additionally, Uurtsaikh infuses this overly confident, tense teenager with a gentle, radiant affection that emerges whenever he can relax and appreciate his surroundings. A scene where he and his friends are freely expressing themselves, rhythmically rapping to a song with infectious joy, stands out particularly. If not for the grown-up worries he carries, which compel him to work jobs like transporting goat carcasses throughout town or logging illegally in the forest for minimal pay, Ulzii would be a carefree and cheerful young boy.
Last year, the movie “If Only I Could Hibernate,” directed by Purevdash, made history as Mongolia’s first film to screen in the official selection at Cannes Film Festival, competing in the Un Certain Regard section during the 2023 edition. Now, this is the same film that is representing Mongolia at the Oscars, highlighting the captivating essence of this moving drama. The film skillfully finds glimmers of hope amidst its portrayal of a harsh reality, neither romanticizing gritty resilience nor painting a picture of stagnant or even abandoned ambitions. Ulzii’s story resonates because it avoids being oversimplified into a happy conclusion.
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2024-11-25 22:46