Herdsmen (2001)

A film crew follows a Kazak family in Xinjiang, China, from spring to winter. Unlike people in Kazakhstan who became farmers and workers, the Kazaks have maintained their nomadic lifestyle and deep connection to nature. The film documents a typical nomadic family with eleven children as they move in search of grazing land for their animals, enduring difficult conditions including periods without food. Despite these hardships, they find moments of joy and believe nature will provide for them. This four-year project by the filmmakers reflects a growing interest among Chinese filmmakers to document the country's ethnic diversity. While employing a classic observational style, the film is visually stunning and epic in scope. It offers valuable insights for studying anthropology, Asian Studies, nomadic cultures, and kinship. By Wei Bin.