Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: A quiet gem, suitable for all ages. Read more
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: ... a movie without commercial pizzazz but with plenty of art-film treasures. Read more
Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: ... despite the exotic locale and the photogenic moppets, that's not enough for a satisfying movie. Read more
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: Those who can get in track with its serene rhythm will be rewarded. Read more
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The movie is very beautiful and also very slow, mostly due to the relatively primitive setting. Read more
Janice Page, Boston Globe: If you want to see straight into the reincarnated soul of this culture, Davaa proves once again that she has the understanding and insight, if not always the storytelling skills, to take you there. Read more
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times: It's a classic family dilemma made fresh by the setting and the realistic circumstances. Read more
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle: 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. Read more
Ernest Hardy, L.A. Weekly: What pulls the viewer in (aside from the charismatic real-life family playing the roles) is the film's compassionate, empathetic perspective. Read more
John Anderson, Newsday: The dog is a cheese-stealing reprobate, but its other-worldly qualities prove very important to a film that informs as it entertains. Read more
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: It's the perfect antidote to overprocessed entertainment, for moviegoers of any age. Read more
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: A stunningly beautiful docudrama about a nomadic family and a thoroughly adorable little dog. Read more
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times: This unassuming drama of a nomad family brims with small marvels. Read more
Leslie Camhi, Village Voice: At times the film's Buddhist lessons feel a bit forced, but the naturalistic performances Davaa has coaxed from a real-life Mongolian family, and her intimate understanding of their culture and values, give this sensitive portrayal its heft. Read more
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: A timeless movie, and offers a rare chance for the whole family to take a spectacular cinematic trip across continents and cultures. Read more