Roughly half of Mongolia’s 3.2 million people reside in the capital Ulaanbaatar, a sprawling maze of roads and jagged skyscrapers. A quarter of the populace are nomadic, dwelling on the vast steppe in traditional yurts, many still adhering to the ancient shamanistic, animistic religion of Tengrism. Echoing its title, City of Wind meditates on a transient edge: a realm forged from the elements of two distinct worlds. Seventeen-year-old Ze is a top student, devoted community member, and gifted shaman in his village. Like countless teenagers, he contends with feelings of inadequacy, observing alluring urban comforts from the rural periphery. Ze’s encounter with the spirited city girl Maalaa during a shamanic ritual, sparks a longing in him, both physical and transformational. Enchanted with her, he evolves into a thoughtful, adaptable partner, letting her take the lead with experimental activities like bold hair-dying or late-night dancing in Ulaanbaatar’s techno scene – a departure from his customary adorning of ceremonial headdresses or invoking ancestral spirits via shamanic drumming.

»Through Ze, I wish to display a fusion of the past, present, and the future of Mongolia«, says director Purev-Ochir. Artfully, she unravels Mongolia’s trajectory since the post-Communist 90s, eschewing an anthropological gaze for a more somber narrative rooted in social realism. Tergel Bold-Erdene delivers a nuanced portrayal of a teen navigating traditional, spiritual duties and personal exploration. Floating, yet crisp camera shots and a sparse, yet otherworldly electronic score heighten the contrast of coexisting realities.