Trailer

The Art of Falling Apart

2019, 60 min, Documentary

In the mountains of northern Mongolia live several dozen nomads who escaped from the Soviet Union in the 1940s. They continue to live in isolation according to ancient customs, despite the recent modernization of Mongolia. It seems that time has stood still here for hundreds of years, and every generation repeats the life of their ancestors. However, historical events persistently penetrate their dreams and myths  — for nomads, all of their current diseases and ailments are the result of demons spawned by communism, collectivization, and Soviet repressions. In order to keep them under control, they must turn to shamans and abide by countless taboos. The movie follows two families of shamans who lead a leisurely, dreamlike life; caring for reindeer and contemplating nature. It seems that there is no border between man and nature: grass grows on the floor of their dwellings, a river spills out and in a few minutes floods their yurt, the shaman dances a long dance in a trance, speaking in the voices of animals and birds.