TIFF 2024 Review: The Wolves Always Come at Night – “The visual language adds to the believability.”

A devastating sandstorm causes a goat herder to losing half of his livestock and causes him and his family to relocate to the city.

 Life is hard in the Mongolian countryside as the temperature fluctuates from the day’s heat to the cold of the night.  Continuing the generational tradition of being goat herders, a young couple have a close relationship with their four children and assist in the birthing of kids.  The lifestyle is turned upside down when a sandstorm decimates the livestock and makes living in the city the more viable option.

Filmmaker Gabrielle Brady is bleeding the line between documentary and narrative fiction as everything feels of the moment, especially the family dynamics and the troubled births that require intervention to ensure the kids survive.  The countryside is desolate but not menacing while the city has a makeshift vibe as there appears to be no infrastructure.  Interestingly, the real conflict comes from how the land should be treated as the urban approach is less spiritual than the countryside.

Not afraid of sun or flashlight spots appearing in the frame to the point of burning out the image is cinematographer Michael Latham. The visual language adds to the believability.  There is no Hollywood lighting simply the natural elements which in themselves can be overpowering.  Pans are effectively used to progress the narrative like the interior car shot.  The bulk of the story takes place in the countryside which is the most interesting part of the narrative. The time spent in the city comes across as a footnote which is strange considering the decision to move there is supposed to be the critical turning point.

The 49th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5-15, 2024, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.