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Celestial Camel (Nebesnyy verblyud)

Ajyal Competition

Synopsis

It’s hard for Bayir, a young sheepherder, to believe in wonders living in the desolate Kalmyk Steppe, a remote, drought-stricken region of Russia. Deeply in debt, Bayir’s father is forced to sell Altynka, a beloved pure-white camel calf, to a cruel film producer. This proves a particularly difficult decision – Altynka is a good omen, having been born under a cloud the shape of a camel. When Altynka’s distressed mother runs off to find her offspring, Bayir goes in pursuit of her to bring her back home and ensure the family's livelihood.

Riding a motorcycle, the 12-year-old boy crosses rough terrain, encountering a welcoming family, a wise Buddhist monk – and even a smuggler. His run-in with this last unsavoury character lands Bayir in prison, where he befriends Quarter, a spunky street kid and petty thief. After a daring escape, the duo continues on the quest to find Bayir’s cherished camels, discovering along the way that wonders do happen in the most unlikely of places.

Shot on location in the southwestern region of Russia, and using local Kalmyk people as actors, ‘Celestial Camel’ is a heart-warming journey through a rarely seen part of the world.

About the Directors

Born in the USSR in 1956, Yury Feting is a director, screenwriter and university lecturer. After working in theatre, he studied film in St. Petersburg and worked at Lenfilm Studio and Channel One. He has won numerous awards, and ‘Celestial Camel’ was nominated for the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2015.

Credits

Director

Yury Feting

Screenwriter

Elzyata Mandzhieva, Yury Feting

Producer

Irina Plisko, Mikhail Plisko

Editor

Yury Feting, Leda Semenova

Music

Maxim Koshevarov

Cinematographer

Anton Zhabin

Production Company

Production Centre “Vse Horosho”

Cast

Mikhail Gasanov, Petr Novikov, Irina Hurgunova, Danzan Badrashkiev, Batr Mandzhiev, Baira Mandzhieva, Tseden Konayev, Victor Sukhorukov

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