It is firstly worthy to note that this film about herds-people in Inner Mongolia is entitled TUYA’S MARRIAGE and not ‘Tuya’s Wedding’.  The implication here is that the wedlock of two people might occasionally not be a cause of celebration.

For Tuya (Yu Nan), the long suffering wife of a Bater, a herdsman who has permanently damaged his legs while digging the family well, the marriage that she seeks is the second one, the purpose of which is to find someone to support Bater and the family.  Director Wang’s film has a documentary look, partly because western audiences are totally unfamiliar with the lifestyle depicted on screen.  Using hand held camera and wide pan shots, the film looks at other times like an art film.  Still, the interest holds for two reasons.  Wang has laid the background to get his viewer concerned on the outcome of Tuya’s demise.  The subject and background of the film are fascinating too.  For example, one wonders at the relatively modern medical care offered to the backward country folk or the morality involved with having two spouses. 

This film version is in Mandarin and I wonder if the Inner Mongolians really speak Mandarin.  Perhaps someone reading this review could shed some light on the matter.