User reviews

For much of it's running time this marathon movie with resplendent costumes which look as though they consumed much of the film's budget recalls the musical remake of 'Lost Horizon'; and also occasionally resembles 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' structured like 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'.

Delphine Seyrig in her final film functions more as an interpreter and commentator than as an active participant in what is going on around her. And there's a lot!

I put this review down to hope that more people will be interested and be aware of this movie.

This is the last of the Ottinger films that I will most likely be watching this year and for the rest of my life perhaps. This is also Delphine Seyrig's last performance before her death the next year and it saddens me that this is her last film because it is an absolute masterpiece and a spectacular farewell film. While it is not like a traditional style of film where it borders between drama and documentary, Joan of Arc of Mongolia is an insightful film on nomadic Mongolian culture and perfectly captures the tension of a culture clash. In the story, 7 white women get captured by a Mongolian princess and the tension gets much tense over time as we are unsure what things like hanging clothes or drying something is considered offensive to Mongolians. This uncertainty of what offends other cultures and what scares off others is tense. But Ottinger does not go into the offensive path but rather explores much more of the Mongolian culture instead of denouncing it. It is a bit long at times, but it flows very beautifully like a documentary. This is one of my favorite films and one of the most underrated masterpieces I have seen in a long time.

WARNING: Those who do not like watching animal dying on screen, it is worth noting a scene where the Mongolians kill a goat for the feast. This is a traditional thing, not supposed to intentionally gross you out. Those who cannot handle strong graphic scenes of animal slaughter may need to stay away from this.