Musicians
- Johanni Curtet: human beat-box, throat-singing, guitar, mouthharp, carillon
- Kham Meslien: doublebass
- Mandakhjargal Daansuren: morin khuur fiddle, throat-singing
Johanni Curtet steps into the spotlight with his guests to perform the film score he composed. A fascinating musical creation at the crossroads of Mongolian traditions and world music, mixed with the accents of blues, pop and beatbox from the steppe. A music that sticks with the characters and their dreams, carrying us through a moving socially and politically-engaged story of contemporary Mongolia.
Synopsis
Ulzii, a teenager from a disadvantaged neighborhood of Ulaanbaatar, is determined to win a physics competition to obtain a scholarship. His illiterate mother finds a job in the countryside, abandoning him, his brother and his sister, in the middle of winter. Ulzii wanders at night looking for objects to burn to keep warm, while preparing for the national tournament.
Medias soundtrack
- Incredible soundtrack – Asian Movie Pulse
- Une musique lumineuse, entêtante – Ouest-France
- Un travail exceptionnel – Zicazine
- Un bel album qui peut aussi exister sans le film – Folker
- A lively score – Sight & Sound
- The music by the talented Johanni Curtet exceeds all expectations – WhatWomenWantMag
- Thèmes aussi magnifiques qu’entêtants – Jazz Mania
- Une voix française pour chanter la Mongolie – RTS
- L’album est d’une grande richesse artistique – La Revue du Spectacle
Radio
FIP, RTS, RTBF, MDR Kultur, Wisconsin Public Radio, CKIA…
Festivals & Awards for the film
- Cannes 2023 – Un certain regard
- Karlovy Vary IFF 2023
- Jerusalem Film Festival 2023
- New Zealand IFF 2023
- BFI London Film Festival 2023
- Vancouver IFF 2023
- Busan IFF 2023
- Hawaii International Film Festival
- Human Rights Film Festival
- Lugano – Audience Award
- São Paulo IFF Mostra – Honorable Mention Jury Award
- El Gouna IFF 2023
- Thessaloniki IFF
- Tokyo Filmex – Audience Award & Special Jury Prize
- Ulaanbaatar International Film Festival – Best Film Director, Best DoP, Best Editor
- Bastau International Film Festival – Grand Prix
Discography
- Johanni Curtet, If Only I Could Hibernate, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, (2024, Amygdala Films/UrbanFactory/Buda Musique)