“Harvest Moon” Casts a Glow on the Beloved in Mongolian Autumn

In rural Mongolia, a city chef and a ten-year-old boy find solace in each other’s company, weaving a heartfelt tale of bond between strangers — a rarity in today’s world.

Sense of Wander: ★★★★☆

The opening scene of Harvest Moon, showcasing a man standing atop a horse to catch phone reception, vividly captures the isolation of rural Mongolia.

Set against the expansive rural landscape of Mongolia, a young man stands on the back of a horse, holding a stick aloft with a cellphone dangling from its end. In this unexpected act, he assists an elderly man in reaching out to his stepson in the city.

This opening scene for Harvest Moon vividly highlights the harsh reality in this part of the world, where phone reception is a rare luxury, and the connection between the local residents and their loved ones afar is severed.

The Mongolian grasslands were once the roaring grounds of nomadic empires, whose achievements were gauged in territorial expanse. Centuries later, who would have thought that the aspirations of this region would shift from the grassy plains to concrete jungles.

In the film, director Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam assumes the lead role as Tulgaa, a head chef in Ulaanbaatar. Much like Tulgaa, many individuals in rural Mongolia are drawn away from their homes in pursuit of a brighter future.

Tulgaa returns to the tent in his hometown for a final visit to his ailing stepfather.

Upon hearing that his stepfather is falling ill, Tulgaa returns to the countryside to fulfill his filial duties. Following his stepfather’s passing, he stays behind to finish the summer harvest that his stepfather had promised to do.

While working in the field, he encounters Tuntuulei, a ten-year-old boy. Although their initial meeting may have started off on the wrong foot, the two gradually grow closer.

Tulgaa discovers a remarkable quality in this spirited 10-year-old. Not knowing about his biological father and with his mother seldom in contact from the city, Tuntuulei arms himself with a vulnerability recognisable only by those of his kind. Like Tuntuulei, Tulgaa’s childhood lacked the presence of a father.

Tulgaa re-learns the facets of his ‘home’ after transitioning from city life. Tuntuulei teaches Tulgaa the ways of living on the grassland and shares his knowledge of tending to it. In return, Tulgaa takes Tuntuulei to horse-riding and boat trips, inadvertently stepping into the role of the absent father in Tuntuulei’s life. Tulgaa even teaches wrestling to Tuntuulei, a tradition typically passed down from fathers to sons in Mongolia.

In an intriguing scene, the boy asks Tulgaa, “What do you do in the city?” With a hint of pride, Tulgaa replies, “I’m the head chef of a five-star hotel,” expecting admiration in return. However, Tuntuulei, responds with confusion, asking, “Only five stars?” Then, they gaze at the sky in silence, as if Tulgaa’s societal status pales in comparison to the galaxy of stars in the night sky. What is true freedom? Only those living it could understand its meaning.

Throughout his stay, Tulgaa cultivated a strong bond with Tuntuulei, spending nearly every day together.

Once, Tuntuulei gets upset when Tulgaa laughs at his illiteracy — an unfortunate reality for many children abandoned by their parents, who were left with limited education, and raised by their grandparents in the hard way.

Tulgaa continues to work in the field and takes a step further by constructing a wooden tower atop a hill. This tower serves as a phone booth for rural dwellers, allowing them to stay connected with their loved ones in the city.

It’s intriguing how, despite its minimal representation in the film, the city lingers in everyone’s thoughts. Yet, the act of speaking to loved ones on the phone is perhaps less about expressing emotions and more about the yearning for a place of fantasy that those living in the grassland deeply desire.

Tulgaa and Tuntuulei are found sitting atop the phone booth built by the former.

As autumn arrives, it marks the completion of Tulgaa’s agricultural duties, signaling his impending departure. He leaves with a heavy heart, mirrored by Tuntuulei’s tearful goodbye. To Tuntuulei, Tulgaa’s departure echoes a second separation from a paternal figure, a role that Tulgaa had assumed during his stay.

The film reaches its emotional climax when the boy, unwilling to bid farewell, screams out while crying, “Can you be my dad?” This poignant moment reflects the helpless destiny faced by many children in rural Mongolia — a consequence of rural exodus.

While not explicitly expressed, the film concludes with Tulgaa riding away in a car, affirming that “life goes on,” albeit with sorrow and helplessness lingering in the air. In that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder: What if, just what if, he takes Tutuulei with him to live in the city? Yet, I know these are nothing more than wild wishes.

Their bond becomes a testament to the precious connections that can be cultivated between individuals, even strangers — a rarity in today’s world.

While not explicitly expressed, the film concludes with Tulgaa riding away in a car, affirming that “life moves forward,” albeit with lingering regrets. In that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder: What if, just what if, he takes Tutuulei with him to live in the city? Yet, I know these are nothing more than wild wishes.

Adapted from the novel Tuntuulei by T. Bum-Erden, Harvest Moon casts a glow on the issue of rural exodus and the poignant connections in rural Mongolia. I’ve pondered the significance of the film’s English title, which refers to the natural phenomenon of the full, bright moon rising soon after sunset. In times when electricity was absent, the abundance of moonlight early in the evening aided farmers in harvesting their summer-grown crops.

After doing some research, it turns out that Harvest Moon‘s original title in Mongolian is “Эргэж ирэхгүй намар,” which directly translates to “Fall will not return.”

The film’s cinematographer, Josua Fischer, who was raised in the city of Ulaanbaatar, highlights the significant role that autumn plays in Mongolia. “For the nomads in Mongolia, fall is actually a very sad time, in a way. It’s a very melancholic time. There’s a lot of activity going on, there are festivities. It’s warm. And then in fall, [people] go back into the city. The kids go back to school and the harvest is kind of done, and it’s more, like, bracing for a hard winter kind of thing,” says Fischer.

Tulgaa and Tuntuulei, though destined for separation, discover solace and healing in the time they’ve shared. Their bond becomes a testament to the precious connections that can be cultivated between individuals, even strangers — a rarity in today’s world.

Connections, like those developed between Tulgaa and Tuntuulei, leave a deep imprint on the heart. They not only transform the fictional lives of these characters but also resonate with those who bear witness to this precious bond.

Reference:
Sippell, M. (2022, October 11). Harvest Moon Tells a Bittersweet Story About Autumn in Mongolia. Movie Maker. https://www.moviemaker.com/harvest-moon-bittersweet-story-autumn-in-mongolia/