A Mongolian nomad family find themselves in disagreement when the eldest daughter, Nansal, befriends a dog and brings it home. Believing that it is responsible for attacking his sheep, her father refuses to allow her to keep it. When it's time for the family to move on, Nansal must decide whether to defy her father and take her new friend with them.
Directed by Byambasuren Davaa, herself of Mongolian birth, the film also documents a land and its people in change – the ongoing topic of urbanisation and the existential changes that the nomads are facing. It follows the fascinating life of the self-sufficient nomad family with its animal herds, and in particular deals with their great spirituality and Buddhist belief, both of which have an influence on their harmonious connection with nature and the belief in reincarnation. In making the film Byambasuren shows authentic details of the everyday life of a nomad family, placing particular value on showing the dismantling of a nomad yurt in detail, and the integration of children's games in the story.
The Cave of the Yellow Dog is a thought-provoking mix of documentary and drama that tells the story of the age-old bond between man and dog, a bond which experiences a new twist through the eternal cycle of reincarnation in Mongolia.
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