The Cave of the Yellow Dog (Die Hohle des gelben Hundes) (2005)
91%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 9 wins & 2 nominations
The Cave of the Yellow Dog is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the essence of nomadic Mongolian life with stunning visuals and a contemplative pace. The film’s unassuming nature and lack of irony or false motive make it a refreshing departure from the typical Hollywood fare. The Batchuluun children are extraordinary, and Nansal Batchuluun is a captivating creature captured on film. The movie is a mournful elegy for the passing of an entire culture, and it brims with small marvels that will leave you in awe. This is a quiet gem suitable for all ages, and it’s a must-see for anyone who appreciates the art of filmmaking.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s both heartwarming and educational, then Cave of the Yellow Dog is the perfect pick. It’s a unique glimpse into the lives of nomadic Mongolian children and their families, and it’s filled with small marvels that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie with a cute dog as the star? Just don’t expect any wisecracking sidekicks with Brooklyn accents – this movie is all about the simple beauty of life on the Mongolian steppe.
Production Company(ies)
Production company
Distributor
Tartan
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Mongolia
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2005
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 33m
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Language(s):Mongolian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 2006 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 13, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Cave of the Yellow Dog, drama, Mongolian, family, dog, nomadic, winter, sheep, vultures, G rating, Byambasuren Davaa, directed by, produced by, written by, Nansal Batchuluun, Babbayar Batchuluun, Nansalmaa Batchuluun, Batchuluun Urjindorj, Buyandulam Daramdadi, reviewed by, critics, 90% Tomatometer, 87% audience score, box office gross $141.8K, Tartan, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, 1h 33m, cinematography, score, sound design, costumes, set design, cultural, coming of age, heartwarming, touching, honest, unassuming, slow-paced, contemplative, compassionate, documentary-style, small marvels, hauntingly beautiful, sparse, journey, across continents and cultures
Worldwide gross: $3,447,214
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,253,497
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,161
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 572,900
US/Canada gross: $141,803
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $216,105
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,533
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,229
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $7,969
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,746
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 600000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $914,390
Production budget ranking: 2,094
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $492,399
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,846,708
ROI to date (est.): 273%
ROI ranking: 494
Nansal Batchuluun – Oldest Daughter
Nansalmaa Batchuluun – Youngest Daughter
Buyandulam Daramdadi – Mother
Batchuluun Urjindorj – Father
Byambasuren Davaa – Director
Director(s)
Byambasuren Davaa
Writer(s)
Byambasuren Davaa
Producer(s)
Byambasuren Davaa
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (5)
The movie is very beautiful and also very slow, mostly due to the relatively primitive setting.
January 25, 2007 | Rating: B-
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Damn me for an unreliable cynic, but The Cave of the Yellow Dog is a remarkable movie: touching, honest, and unassuming, without a hint of irony or false motive.
January 4, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It must also be noted that each of the Batchuluun children are extraordinary and that Nansal Batchuluun (both her real and her character’s name) is among the most captivating creatures captured on film — ever.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This is no heart-tugging family drama; rather it’s a contemplative, compassionate portrait of a hardy people. Offered as a borderline documentary, it proceeds in long, uncluttered takes.
December 15, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A quiet gem, suitable for all ages.
December 8, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
This unassuming drama of a nomad family brims with small marvels.
December 8, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Bill Stamets
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
This film is so cute
November 14, 2021
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
Unique, mild glimpse into nomadic Mongolian kids’ lives.
May 6, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Common Sense Media Editors
Common Sense Media
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
a mournful elegy for the passing of an entire culture.
June 15, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Anton Bitel
musicOMH.com
How wonderful it is to encounter a film like this, with its sweet simplicities and its quiet observations.
March 7, 2007 | Rating: 5/5
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com
Add in a wisecracking sidekick with a Brooklyn accent, and the Mongolian drama “Cave of the Yellow Dog” could be remade as a Disney cartoon.
January 4, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star…
Plot
A young Mongolian girl defies her father’s wishes and keeps a small dog, but must fight to keep him when her family prepares to move camps and her father believes the dog will bring bad luck.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features all unknown actors, including the Batchuluun family who play themselves.
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