Not many are able to say they’re well-versed in the national cinema of Mongolia, a country located above China and below Russia. In early 2023, a movie from Mongolia generated buzz at the Cannes Film Festival, showing that it might be the next big thing the world never expected. The landlocked nation has a deep history when it comes to their reputation in Asia: the Xiongnu and Mongol Empire originated from the grassy plains of the region. After being a satellite state of the Soviet Union, Mongolian cinema still sees the ripple effect from influential Russian movies, as the films from the country are often in a Russian-inspired style and tradition. Few Mongolian movies have gained prominence throughout the years, especially after the democratic revolution in 1990, but the new horror movie Aberrance might be the beginnings of putting this nation on the cinematic world map.
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