1. Away from the Grasslands Review
Khalid Ali’s short documentary Away from the Grasslands focuses on the Mongolian
band Hanggai. What makes Hanggai utterly captivating is the fact that the band blends
together traditional Mongolian folk music with other styles of music that are much
more modern. Hanggai’s musical style is unbelievably unique and innovative. Away
from the Grasslands also informs viewers that the band sings exclusively in
Mongolian, which is a language spoken by less than 1% of the world’s population.
Therefore, it seems as though it would be nearly impossible to find another band quite
like Hanggai.
Hanggai’s distinctive musical style is what makes Away from the Grasslands such an
absorbing film. Ali takes viewers behind the scenes as Hanggai is in the process of
recording a new album. Away from the Grasslands is consistently entertaining as Ali
combines the behind-the-scenes recording process with personal interviews and live
concert footage. Not only does the film include interviews with the members of
Hanggai, but there are also interviews with the well-known Dutch musician and
producer JB Meijers, as he joins Hanggai in the studio. It is absolutely mind-blowing
to watch members of the band make use of some of the world’s oldest musical
techniques such as throat singing and playing the mouth harp.
Hanggai’s music is both culturally significant and incredibly enchanting. This band
deserves recognition due to their desire to preserve traditional styles of music and
strengthen their ethnic identity while simultaneously producing a fresh and eccentric
sound. By opting to explore the music of Hanggai, Ali has selected a truly fascinating
subject for his film. Ali’s striking close-up shots of the band members playing their
instruments really enable the film to capture the spirit of Hanggai’s style and allow the
music to come alive. Ali also includes beautiful shots of the Mongolian grasslands,
which are particularly stunning due to the fact that the film is black-and-white.
Ali successfully encapsulates every aspect of Hanggai’s music, from their recording
process to their live performances, all in under a half an hour. Ali’s film is
entertaining and engrossing. Away from the Grasslands will certainly expose viewers
to a musical style unlike anything they have ever heard before.