Khadak (2006)

Khadak is a 2006 Belgian/Dutch/German film directed by Peter Brosens and Jessica Hope Woodworth. The film is set in the steppes of Mongolia and takes place during winter in the latter half of the 20th century. It explores the events which concern Bagi, a nomadic herder, during his coming of age and the forced relocation of his people. Bagi has epilepsy and is subject to fits which cause visions and out-of-body experiences. When a disease kills some of the livestock his family relies on, it is taken as an omen of misfortune. Soon after, Bagi and many others are forcibly relocated and made to work at an open pit mine mining coal. Eventually Bagi meets a woman, named Zolzaya, who participates in raids against the freight trains which transport coal away from the facility. As Bagi fights to overcome his epilepsy, together with Zolzaya he leads a group of young people who try to disrupt the mining operations and enliven the despondent populace to return to their nomadic lifestyle.

Synopsis

Prenant place dans les steppes glacées de Mongolie, « Khadak » raconte l'épopée de Bagi, un jeune nomade destiné à devenir chamane. Un fléau s'abat sur le bétail et les nomades sont relogés de force dans des villes minières désolées. Bagi sauve la vie d'une belle voleuse de charbon, Zolzaya, et ensemble ils enquêtent sur cette épidémie qui contraint les nomades à quitter leurs steppes…