For 12 generations, the men of the Nurgaiv family have been masters of the art of eagle hunting—a Kazakh falconry tradition in Western Mongolia that dates back some 2,000 years, to before Genghis Khan. Now, shy, soft-spoken 13-year-old Aisholpan is determined to become the first female in her family to be included in this ancient father/son ritual. Since an eagle can have only one master, first Aisholpan must capture hers, which involves scrambling down a sheer rock cliff, secured by a rope, to seize a three-month-old golden eaglet from the nest as the mother circles overhead. This young female eagle will live, train, and hunt with Aisholpan for seven years—until she releases it into the wild, so that nature's cycle of life can continue. After months of enthusiastic training with her supportive father, rosy-cheeked Aisholpan enters the annual Golden Eagle Festival, a renowned rivalry, competing against 70 of the greatest Kazakh eagle hunters. Not surprisingly, the chauvinistic tribal elders are firmly opposed, voicing societal constraints such as “women get cold” and “women belong in the kitchen.” But courageous Aisholpan will go on to face her greatest challenge, an exhausting rite-of-passage that involves riding on horseback into the frigid Altai Mountains with her father, enduring 40-below-zero temperatures and waist-high snow drifts, to kill a fox with her eagle, in order to prove that she is, indeed, a real huntress. Directed by Otto Bell, this soaring coming-of-age documentary narrated by Daisy Ridley offers an intriguing glimpse into nomadic family life. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Otto Bell, a behind-the-scenes featurette (11 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an engaging documentary.] (S. Granger)
The Eagle Huntress
Sony, 88 min., in Kazakh w/English subtitles, G, DVD or Blu-ray: $26.99, Feb. 7 Volume 32, Issue 2
The Eagle Huntress
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: