The movie If I Could Hibernate is set to premiere on May 30 in theaters, marking a milestone in the cinematic representation of Mongolia as it is the first production from the country to compete in one of the official sections of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. This human drama, which tells the story of Ulzii, a 14-year-old teenager, addresses themes of education, hope, and resilience in a context of extreme poverty and family abandonment.
A human drama that promises to break our hearts
Ulzii lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Ulan Bator, where, after the absence of his mother, an illiterate woman who suffers from depression and alcohol problems, he must take on the responsibility of caring for his two younger siblings. In the middle of winter, the young man faces not only the extreme cold but also the difficulties of balancing his studies with occasional jobs to meet his family’s basic needs.
Director Zoljargal Purevdash drew on her own childhood to create this moving story, which has resonated at more than a dozen international festivals, such as those in Karlovy Vary, Göteborg, Hong Kong, and São Paulo. Film critics have praised the movie, highlighting its cinematography and the ability to blend Ulzii’s life’s hardships with glimpses of hope. Rubén Romero from Cinemanía emphasizes how, despite the calamities, there is a brightness in the imagery that envelops the characters.
If I Could Hibernate represents a unique opportunity for film buffs and lovers of auteur cinema to peek into a little-explored culture in contemporary cinematography. With its focus on Mongolian reality, the film promises to be a powerfully human testimony and a window into a different global perspective.
