THE WOLVES ALWAYS COME AT NIGHT

This documentary, interspersed with some fictional scenes, offers a glimpse into the struggles faced by Mongolian goat shepherd Davaasuren Dagvasuren, his wife Otgonzaya Dashzeveg, and their four children. Each day they tend to their animals with care and dedication, while finding peace and freedom in life’s simple pleasures. Their land is becoming increasingly barren due to climate change and when an unrelenting dust storm wipes out their goat flock, they are forced to relocate their yurt to the outskirts of a nearby town. There they navigate a new way of life. Dagvasuren takes a job in earthmoving but is conflicted between the need to earn an income and digging up untouched land. With director Gabrielle Brady at the helm, the panoramic cinematography is mesmerising and the story unfolds gradually, reflecting the calm personalities of Dagvasuren and Otgonzaya. Though they yearn to return to wide-open spaces, they know that for now they must stay where they are. While the drawn out pacing won’t be for everyone, this poignant and quiet reflection narrowly avoids falling into depressing territory.