Director: Zoljargal Purevdash

Stars: Battsooj Uurtsaikh, Nominjiguur Tsend, Tuguldur Batsaikhan, Ganchimeg Sandagdorj

Echoes of Hirokazu Koreeda’s ‘Nobody Knows’ in its depiction of children left to their own devices in this occasionally harrowing but hopeful semi-autobiographical picture from Mongolian writer-director Purevdash.

Ulzii (Uurtsaikh) is a gifted fourteen-year-old high school student who lives in a yurt in a deprived neighbourhood in Ulaanbaatar, with his two adorable younger siblings, and an overworked mother (Sandagdorj) who is struggling with alcoholism and depression. To combat the terrible cold, the siblings go on frequent raids to obtain wood for the fire.

An opportunity presents itself when Ulzii wins a local physics competition, and a supportive teacher encourages him to compete nationally for a scholarship. For Ulzii this means weighing up his familial responsibilities with his personal ambitions, which is made particularly challenging when his mother, unable to cope, goes to work in the country leaving him in sole charge.

It sounds bleak, but Uurtsaikh’s script is tempered with moments of humour and demonstrations of shared humanity and solidarity, while shining a fascinating light on contemporary Mongolian life. Davaanyam Delgerjargal’s pristine cinematography locates a real beauty in the rundown locales, and the cast of amateurs deliver winningly unaffected performances, particularly a luminous central turn from Uurtsaikh as the indefatigable Ulzii.

If Only I Could Hibernate is released 19th April

David Willoughby

Follow David on Twitter @DWill_Crackfilm