News "If Only I Could Hibernate" comes to Parma: free screening and panel discussion

"If Only I Could Hibernate" comes to Parma: free screening and panel discussion

On 23 February at 8:30 p.m., Cinema D’Azeglio d’essai will host a special event dedicated to international auteur cinema: a free screening of If Only I Could Hibernate, the debut feature film by Mongolian director Zoljargal Purevdash.

Premiered to critical acclaim at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, the film delicately yet powerfully portrays a story of resilience, dreams, and everyday challenges. It has been recognized by critics as one of the most compelling discoveries in contemporary cinema. The original title, Baavgai Bolohson, conveys the desire to hibernate like a bear in order to escape the harsh cold and the fatigue of daily life. Drawing on elements from her own autobiography, the director depicts the transition from life in the Ger to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital and one of the most polluted cities in the world. The film offers a vivid social portrait of contemporary Mongolia. To preserve the highest degree of realism, Purevdash cast non-professional actors who actually live in the capital’s neighborhoods, resulting in remarkably authentic performances.

Following the screening (in Italian), a panel discussion will take place featuring guests from academic and civic organizations. The event will open with a special greeting from director Zoljargal Purevdash.

 

Speakers:

• Nadia Breda (University of Florence)
• Tsetsegbaatar Chuluunbaatar (University of Parma)
• Nicola Imoli (University of Turin)
• Sara Martin (University of Parma)
• Nicola Mura (University of Florence)
• Sabrina Tosi Cambini (University of Parma)
• Representatives of Migrantour Parma

The initiative is free and open to the public. It is organized within the framework of the project “Parma e l’Altrove. Le Vie Antiche oggi” and funded by FAPE funds of the University of Parma and the Intercultural Center, in collaboration with Migrantour Parma, the Embassy of Mongolia in Rome, the Municipality of Parma, and the naMec Center (Interuniversity Research Center on Asia, Nomadic Cultures, Mobility and Environment).