Climate change has increasingly disrupted the traditional ways of life, and the people of Mongolia have also sought ways to adapt to these challenges. In the Bayankhongor region, herders Daava (Davaasuren Dagvasuren) and Zaya (Otgonzaya Dashzeveg) end up losing half of their herd during a severe sandstorm, which forces them to abandon their pastoral life. Like many nomadic families, they move to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, and are forced to settle in the polluted, overcrowded Ger district, where they must find work while navigating issues of urban labour and environmental hazards; and settling down in a city that holds little familiarity for them, while preserving their cultural identity.
Co-written and directed by Gabrielle Brady, the docudrama explores themes of displacement, adaptation, and resilience. It explores their experiences living in the city, with Daava working for a mining crew and Zaya’s longing for home as they go through the harsh realities of city life. With immersive cinematography and ambient music by Aaron Cupples, it deals with the emotional and social consequences of migration due to climate-induced changes.
The Wolves Always Come at Night had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and has also been screened as part of the BFI London Film Festival. It is a must-watch for its intimate portrayal of human resilience, the tensions between tradition and modernity, and the real impacts of climate change on ordinary lives.