Nomad Meets the City

Tradition and modernity juxtapose in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar where white yurts dot the urban landscape, illustrating a spectacular societal change: the transition from nomadism to urbanism. Instead of overlooking endless steppe and blue sky, the nomad now lives on a grid. Tumurbaatar is a garbage truck driver in Ulaanbaatar striving for his daughter's education. Torn between life in the city and his home in the countryside, he struggles with his dreams and identity. He heads home for a visit, only to find the romantic image of home no longer fits with his current reality. Nonetheless, he clings fast to his dreams for his children to lead lives he cannot.