If Only I Could Hibernate

Schoolboy Ulzii faces a harsh Mongolian winter fending for himself and his younger siblings in Zoljargal Purevdash's Cannes-acclaimed debut feature.

After his illiterate mother finds a job in the countryside, Ulzii, a promising student from a poor neighbourhood in Ulaanbaatar, is left to fend for himself and his younger siblings. Determined to win a physics competition and its scholarship prize he must face a difficult decision between carving out his own future and supporting his siblings.

Purevdash’s film heralds an important new voice in world cinema, uncovering contemporary Mongolian society with urgent detail and emphasising the invaluable impact of education.