Long Tune (2007)

Run Time - 117 min.  |   Countries - China  |   MPAA Rating - NR
  • AllMovie Rating
  • User Ratings (0)
  • Your Rating

Share on

Synopsis by Mark Deming

A woman searches for a new sense of purpose after she's touched by tragedy in this drama from Mongolian filmmaker Hasichaolu. Qiqige is a woman with a rare talent for singing "Urtiin duu," a form of traditional folk music in Mongolia. With money scarce at home, Qiqige says goodbye to her husband Batu and travels to China in search of work, which leads to an argument with her spouse. Meanwhile, Batu, who grooms horses at an equestrian club, has his eye on a horse that's been taken from the wild by a trader; he's like to buy the horse and give it its freedom, but he doesn't have the money. Shortly after Qiqige leaves for China, Batu is killed in an auto accident, and when she returns home, she discovers the shock has robbed her of her singing voice. Using the last of her savings, Qiqige buys the horse and returns it to the wild to honor her late husband, but she still can't escape her grief. As Qiqige falls into a deep depression and ponders taking her own life, her friend Erji is looking after a baby camel that's been rejected by its mother. Erji finds the only way she can get another camel to nurse the young dromedary is by singing Urtiin duu melodies to her, but she lacks the skill or the stamina to do it for long. Can Qiqige recover her voice and help rescue the hungry animal? Urtiin Duu (aka Long Tune) received its North American premiere at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival.