Pub.lished Movie Reviews
The Eagle Huntress (2016)
"The Eagle Huntress" is a 2016 documentary that follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old Kazakh girl from Mongolia, as she strives to become the first female eagle hunter to compete in the eagle festival at Ulgii, Mongolia. Aisholpan comes from a family of nomads, who spend their summers in the Altai Mountains and winters in a townhouse. Seven generations of men in her family have been eagle hunters, and she's determined to carry on this legacy.
Yet, there have been criticisms about the representation of Aisholpan's journey in the film. Some reviewers and researchers believe that the film exaggerated the opposition Aisholpan faced as a female eagle hunter. Early promotional material for the film portrayed the Kazakh eagle hunting culture as one steeped in "ingrained misogyny." However, historical evidence shows that nomadic steppe women have been involved in training eagles to hunt from antiquity to the present day. As a result, the filmmakers had to correct early reports that Aisholpan was the "only" woman hunting with eagles.
Interestingly, a 2014 article by Dennis Keen, a consultant on the film, suggests that women in Aisholpan's region face a traditionalist understanding of society that often dismisses their achievements. Even so, it's essential to keep in mind that the men Keen cites as objecting represent only a subset of prominent eagle hunters.
Despite serving as a consultant, Keen overlooked the existence of other female eagle hunters, such as Akbota Bagashar and Gulaida Zhorobekova. Bagashar, for instance, was noted as having competed in the "Sonar-2013" festival, where she was awarded a prize for being the only female competitor.
Further controversy arose when a retired journalist, Asha Tanna, reported for Al Jazeera English news about her visit to Bayan-Ölgii, western Mongolia, where "The Eagle Huntress" was filmed. Tanna noted an 80-year-old eagle hunter who claimed that Aisholpan’s story and win were merely a publicity stunt. He stated that women do not hunt today and suggested that Aisholpan put Olgii on the map to attract more tourists.
Thus, while "The Eagle Huntress" is an inspiring story, it's essential to critically examine its portrayal of the Kazakh eagle hunting culture and the opposition Aisholpan faced. The film has certainly brought attention to an age-old tradition, yet it has also sparked debates about the authenticity of its narrative and its impact on the local community.
- You don't enjoy documentary style films.
- You are uninterested in stories about cultural traditions and gender roles.
- You dislike subtitles, as portions of the film are in the Kazakh language.
- You're not into movies about animals.
- You prefer action-packed, fast-paced movies.
Warning: The following may contain spoilers:
What's the deal with "The Eagle Huntress"? I mean, here's a 13-year-old girl, Aisholpan, training to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter. Now, when I was 13, I was trying to master the art of not burning toast!
I mean, you've got this teenager in Mongolia, hunting with a golden eagle, in sub-zero temperatures. In America, we call that an extreme sport! And here it is, just a family tradition. "Sorry, can't hang out today, guys. Gotta go do some extreme sports with my pet eagle."
And let's talk about this eagle. This isn't some parakeet in a cage. This is a golden eagle. This bird is huge! It's like having a flying Volkswagen with talons. And I thought dealing with New York pigeons was tough.
I gotta say though, it's a beautiful film. But it really makes you question what you were doing at 13. I mean, what's next? A 10-year-old snake charmer? A toddler running a marathon? Really makes you feel like you've been slacking off!
March of the Penguins (2005):
If you enjoyed "The Eagle Huntress," you might find "March of the Penguins" equally enthralling. This documentary offers an intimate look into the life of Emperor Penguins and their life cycle. It's a captivating film directed by Luc Jacquet who perfectly captures their journey and the harsh realities of survival in an icy wilderness. As a viewer, you become fully invested in their story due to the sublime cinematography and excellent narration by Morgan Freeman.
Winged Migration (2001):"Winged Migration" would strongly appeal to fans of "The Eagle Huntress" with its high standard of bird photography. This beautiful and intelligent documentary directed by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud focuses on birds migrating across continents. The viewer gets to experience the adventure from the bird's perspective, creating a fascinating visual and narrative journey.
Earth (2007):"Earth" is another documentary that will pique your interest. Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, it's a groundbreaking film that offers a visually stunning tour of our planet. It's essentially a compilation of the best moments from the epic television series "Planet Earth". The depth and breadth of nature captured will leave you in awe, much like the experience delivered by "The Eagle Huntress".
Born to be Wild (2011):"Born to be Wild" is a heart-warming adventure that showcases the bond between animals and their caregivers. The film is an inspiring journey that depicts the life of orphaned orangutans and elephants from birth to adulthood, underlining the beauty and challenges of wildlife rearing. If you appreciated the human-animal relationship in "The Eagle Huntress," you'll surely be moved by this touching narrative.
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