Urga

PG

1991

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

List

100%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Goumbo (Bayaertu), a young Mongolian, herds sheep with his wife, Pagma (Badema), on their picturesque land. It's a sleepy, simple existence until a Russian truck driver named Sergei (Vlodimir Gostukhin) falls asleep at the wheel and crashes outside their home. Goumbo takes him in, slaughters a sheep for their dinner, and even has his daughter play accordion for their entertainment. Meanwhile, Sergei amuses his hosts with tales from his life in the city.

Read More

Read Less

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3/5

Aug 1, 2001

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The kind of movie that has no reason for existence, except to keep the viewer bemused. It does that with such sly charm that when it's over, you don't even think to ask why it was made. You're simply pleased that it was.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

It was only in the second half... that the film seemed to lift off of its own accord, and I realised I was watching something exceptional.

Jul 25, 2018

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Mikhalkov's beautifully shot tale of the impact of modernization on rural Mongolia was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar.

Rated: A-

Aug 27, 2012

Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Interesting slice of life film about a family of Mongolians trying to live their traditional life in spite of Communist edicts.

Rated: C+

May 12, 2003

Full Review

Read all reviews

ian t

How to describe this film? A Mongolian goes into town to buy johnnies.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A charming and thought provoking film

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ã couper le souffle!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I didn't understand a lot from this film. this 3.5 stars is dedicated to perfect cinematography and vast fields of Mongolia. the characters where lovable. as much as I figured out, the story was perfect too. a good one if you're looking for intellectual movies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If you ever wanted to visit the steppes of Mongolia but were afraid to ask, this film will take you there. The gorgeous landscapes almost pale in comparison to the beauty of the sheperding family of four, plus grandma, who live in a tent there. Imagine watching a five year old kid help his dad gut a lamb for dinner and finding it moving and gentle rather than creepy and gross. I would have been happier if the film had remained a simple portrait of the family rather than involving a story about the onslaught of civilization. But that story *is* part and parcel of that family's portrait today. Some drunken Russian road builder dude brings some harsh to their mellow, and the film drifts out of focus a bit ... but I guess that's the point. The final shot sees a smokestack instead of an <i>urga</i> rising from the horizon.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is in three languages, Chinese (i think Mandarin but not sure), Russian, and primarily Mongolian. It shows the hazards of having to travel the maximum distance in one day and the result - going to sleep at the wheel by the Russian. It shows the hardships of the life of the Mongolians and life in a pub in town. It showed how the Mongols celebrate their history at the end. i enjoyed watching this movie and love to see it again and again - that is why i gave it a rating of 100%. i enjoyed the music and singing. Eva B.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Nikita Mikhalkov

Director

Bayaertu

Gombo

Badema

Pagma

Vlodimir Gostukhin

Sergei

Babushka

Grandma

Bao Yongyan

Bourma

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

52%

51%

Turner & Hooch

13%

50%

Curly Sue

80%

75%

Queen of Hearts

83%

62%

White Hunter, Black Heart

85%

81%

Driving Miss Daisy

TRAILER

for Driving Miss Daisy

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Goumbo (Bayaertu), a young Mongolian, herds sheep with his wife, Pagma (Badema), on their picturesque land. It's a sleepy, simple existence until a Russian truck driver named Sergei (Vlodimir Gostukhin) falls asleep at the wheel and crashes outside their home. Goumbo takes him in, slaughters a sheep for their dinner, and even has his daughter play accordion for their entertainment. Meanwhile, Sergei amuses his hosts with tales from his life in the city.

Director: Nikita Mikhalkov
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Mongolian
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.4K
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround