The Smell of Water

On a hot, sunny autumn day, a man on a motorcycle fell over in the vast, mountainous Gobi Desert, and John, an engineer with the experience of a traveler and the power of his expensive motorcycle, was the one who saved his life. He found two local children with broken arms and on the verge of death without drinking water. When he regained consciousness, he found it unbelievable that a small child was herding cattle in a desolate area, and he was surprised by their dirty and uncivilized appearance. With the hospitality of a Mongolian, the boy threw his beloved goat and cooked it for him. But John was very upset when he couldn’t eat it. He was also very angry when the little water he had found for several days was thrown away in just one day. However, since the language barrier was not clear, he could not understand how the two of them felt.

Directed by Zolbayar Dorj, Lkhagvadorj Lkhagvajav, The Smell of Water leans on a strong ensemble — Ider Khuyagbaatar, Amina Chinbat, Jonathan Bradbeer — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2012.