The Holy Ball of China! (Mongolian Ping Pong (DVD))

Name: Ailran

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Product:	Mongolian Ping Pong (DVD)
Date:	10.12.05 (202 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The scenery, the kids and their innocence.

Disadvantages: Subtitled and very different from most films

The vast landscape of grasslands, disappearing into the horizons as far as the eye can see, is one of the defining features of Mongolian Ping Pong. The sheer scope of the land, engulfing the little hut Bilike and his family live in, shows the isolation of their lives and the beauty of their country.

Bilike is 6 years old and spends most of his time playing and messing about with his friends, Dawa & Eguotou. They ride about on horses, and a little moped that belongs to Egu, helping their families and stealing beer.

Mongolian Ping Pong is about innocence, childhood dreams and a way of life that is so different from our own that it seems as if it could be a period film. If it wasn’t for the motor scooter and the occasional appearance of a car and a few other modern goods you could easily believe this was set in Mongolia of the 18th century, life has probably changed so little since then.

The contrasts between our way of life and that of Bilike and his friends & family is brought to into focus right from the opening shot, when we see him and his family posing for a photo in front of the great wall of china, only to discover after the photo has been taken with a fake background when it is changed for another world famous site (somewhere in France but I am racking my brain to recall whether it was the Eiffel Tower or the Arc D’Triumphe) and then their own little hut in the grasslands of Mongolia. These places are just dreams for them, unlike us they have no chance of ever seeing these places, possibly not even really knowing where they are.

There is a plot, of sorts, to the film but it is really secondary to the mood, the look and the ‘feeling’ of the film. Sit back and immerse yourself in the sheer joy of watching kids at play, being kids and innocent of the world at large. They enjoy their life and act like real kids do.
Their innocence is what drives the plot, when it arrives. Bilike spotting this odd white ball floating down the river that runs alongside his home. We know what it is straight away, we have seen Ping Pong balls many a time and for us it is instantly recognisable as one, for Bilike though, who has never seen one in his life, it is an object to grab hold of and investigate.

Bilike is fascinated by this globe and is determined to discover what it is. He asks everyone he knows and only his grandma has any idea what it is, but what she tells him just adds to it’s mysteriousness.
When they do discover what is actually is, “the ball of China”, they decide they should return it to the Chinese people. Like all 7 year olds (around that age anyway_ though they have no concept of distance and don’t really realise how far they would have to go.

It is this naivety, and the performances of the three young boys, that make this a film to be savoured. I am still half believing this is a documentary, or shot just by pointing a camera at the kids and letting them get on with things in a free flowing kind of way. The kids are that good, the dialogue that natural that you cannot help but think that this is them, as they really are.

Whether or not this film was made for an international audience I don’t know, but the concentration on the scenery makes me think that it probably was. Add to this all the little humorous touches that play on the difference between Western and Mongolian cultures, the 4x4 symbol on Bilike’s horse, the introduction of ‘the famous tea of America – Coffee’ and many others make Ping Pong an all round joy and a film unlike any you are likely to see again for quite a long time.

If you can cope with subtitled films and want to see something a bit different even from other foreign films then keep an eye out for this at an Arts Cinema near you.


Running time: 102 minutes
Certificate: ?? though would imagine a PG. It seems to have no certificate according to the BBFC at the moment so must have had a 'recommended' certificate at the Cambridge Film Festival this year.

Summary: A beautiful film that is a joy to watch