'Close to Eden
An odd but entrancing tale of civilizations in conflict, "Close to Eden, '' the story of a traditional family in Chinese-held inner Mongolia, may require some patient handling. However, the combination of unusual setting and warm, accessible tone may turn it into a profitable select-site performer.
Set in the very recent past, the film centers around the family of Gombo (Bayaertu), his wife Pagma (Badema), their two children and his mother. They live the centuries-old life of Mongolian nomads, tending their small herds of sheep, cattle and horses and living in a large tent.
The outside world has impinged only slightly on their lives, largely through the accordion that daughter Bourma (Bao Yongyan) has been given by a city-dwelling uncle. However, one day a Russian contract worker, Sergei (Vladimir Gostukhin), falls asleep at the wheel of his truck, becomes stranded and ends up the guest of Gombo and Pagma.
Because Gombo and Pagma have reached the government-imposed limit of three children, Pagma has been urging her husband to go to town and buy condoms and, while he's at it, a television. So Gombo and two horses hitch a ride with Sergei and travel off to a nearby city, a vast jury-rigged collection of apartment blocks, huge industrial plants, and stores crammed with the latest in consumer goods.
For the opening sequences, director Nikita Mikhalkov uses relaxed and patient rhythms to great effect. Typically, he spends as much time watching Gombo catch a dragonfly in flight and showing it to his son Bouin (Wurinile, a tremendously appealing natural talent) or on how the family slaughters a sheep as on more plot-oriented material.
Once Gombo and Sergei get to the city, the pace quickens as the two -- singly and together -- engage in a series of seriocomic escapades. When Gombo leaves for home, the film segues into an elaborate dream sequence in which a drunken uncle (Baoyinhexige) appears as Genghis Khan at the head of a column of soldiers and chastises Gombo for straying from Mongol ways.
The lament for a passing culture is a familiar one, but Mikhalkov has appeared to capture the whole nature of Mongolian life so successfully, the film is unusually persuasive.
Also, by keeping the love between Gombo and Pagma the central focus, Mikhalkov ensures that the prevailing tone will be warm and the issues intensely personalized rather than abstract. Even the vast rolling landscape of the Steppes becomes intimate.
CLOSE TO EDEN
MIRAMAX
Director-Original idea Nikita Mikhalkov
Supervising producer Michel Seydoux
Executive producer Jean-Louis Piel
Story Nikita Mikhalkov, Roustam Ibraguimbekov
Screenplay Roustam Ibraguimbekov
Director of photography Villenn Kaluta
Production designer Aleksei Levtchenko
Editor Joelle Hache
Music Eduard Artemiev
Color
Cast:
Gombo Bayaertu
Pagma Badema
Sergei Valdimir Gostukhin
Running time -- 106 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
Set in the very recent past, the film centers around the family of Gombo (Bayaertu), his wife Pagma (Badema), their two children and his mother. They live the centuries-old life of Mongolian nomads, tending their small herds of sheep, cattle and horses and living in a large tent.
The outside world has impinged only slightly on their lives, largely through the accordion that daughter Bourma (Bao Yongyan) has been given by a city-dwelling uncle. However, one day a Russian contract worker, Sergei (Vladimir Gostukhin), falls asleep at the wheel of his truck, becomes stranded and ends up the guest of Gombo and Pagma.
Because Gombo and Pagma have reached the government-imposed limit of three children, Pagma has been urging her husband to go to town and buy condoms and, while he's at it, a television. So Gombo and two horses hitch a ride with Sergei and travel off to a nearby city, a vast jury-rigged collection of apartment blocks, huge industrial plants, and stores crammed with the latest in consumer goods.
For the opening sequences, director Nikita Mikhalkov uses relaxed and patient rhythms to great effect. Typically, he spends as much time watching Gombo catch a dragonfly in flight and showing it to his son Bouin (Wurinile, a tremendously appealing natural talent) or on how the family slaughters a sheep as on more plot-oriented material.
Once Gombo and Sergei get to the city, the pace quickens as the two -- singly and together -- engage in a series of seriocomic escapades. When Gombo leaves for home, the film segues into an elaborate dream sequence in which a drunken uncle (Baoyinhexige) appears as Genghis Khan at the head of a column of soldiers and chastises Gombo for straying from Mongol ways.
The lament for a passing culture is a familiar one, but Mikhalkov has appeared to capture the whole nature of Mongolian life so successfully, the film is unusually persuasive.
Also, by keeping the love between Gombo and Pagma the central focus, Mikhalkov ensures that the prevailing tone will be warm and the issues intensely personalized rather than abstract. Even the vast rolling landscape of the Steppes becomes intimate.
CLOSE TO EDEN
MIRAMAX
Director-Original idea Nikita Mikhalkov
Supervising producer Michel Seydoux
Executive producer Jean-Louis Piel
Story Nikita Mikhalkov, Roustam Ibraguimbekov
Screenplay Roustam Ibraguimbekov
Director of photography Villenn Kaluta
Production designer Aleksei Levtchenko
Editor Joelle Hache
Music Eduard Artemiev
Color
Cast:
Gombo Bayaertu
Pagma Badema
Sergei Valdimir Gostukhin
Running time -- 106 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 10/19/1992
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.