June 02, 2006
When I Forget, I REALLY Forget!
Cuzzin Tom (who is once again two-fistedly knocking back the airag in Mongolia) reminded me that I neglected to mention the most important part of the Dulaan Knit-In, the pre-release screening of F.I.R.E.’s movie, “One Steppe At a Time.” The half-hour movie will be premiered at a movie festival in Telluride, Colorado, but I was thrilled to be able to get an admittedly slightly-rough-around-the-edges draft copy ahead of time to show at the get-together.
I assumed, naturally, that the five minutes of the movie specifically about Dulaan would be the only part that would really draw me in but I was mesmerized right from the beginning. After all, there were two cameo shots of the Cuzz (who says that he will send anyone who asks a personal autograph for the special price of $4.99 plus shipping and handling); and an opportunity, finally, to see a picture of Meredith of F.I.R.E. whom I have never met (my first thought: So young for so much responsibility!).
The movie also gives a more complete “big picture” view of the Mongolians’ struggles, including footage of the veritable forest of gers (yurts) that has sprung up around the outskirts of Ulan Bataar, housing the nomads who are no longer able to live a nomadic life. A fascinating, touching and slightly nauseating segment shows volunteer doctors demonstrating to Mongolian nurses and doctors who work at a hospital without an x-ray machine how to test for broken bones with, amazingly, a stethoscope and a tuning fork. There is also some very moving footage of a destitute widower with four children living in one of the remote regions outside of Ulan Bataar who was reduced to tearing up the wooden floors of his home to sell for money and food. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “I had to sell everything I had.” No, actually, until you're living like that man and his family, you didn't.
All of this tragedy was counterbalanced, though, by the footage of the children in the orphanage and kindergarten receiving the Dulaan boxes. In one shot, an adult opens a large box of knitted items and the children crowd around, looking curious but still somewhat disengaged. Then, although you can’t hear it, one of the adults must explain that the items in the boxes are for the children because the looks of detachment are instantly replaced with ear-to-ear grins and sparkling eyes and searching looks in the adults’ faces for confirmation that this is indeed true…and a fight immediately breaks out over the first thing removed from the box, a knitted teddy bear. It was wonderful.
The best moment was, however, when a sweater knit by MaryB, who was sitting Right There In The Room With Us, was taken out of the box and was claimed by a child. That was the ultimate “circle of life” moment for me, what we have all been working so hard toward for the last two years.
(Okay, okay. If you held a gun to my head, I would say that it is possible that that moment ran a close second to the footage of the giant compressor squashing clothes down so more of them can fit in the shipping containers. Oddly, that elicited more “oohs!” and “aahs!” than anything else in the film. Oh, but we are easily entertained.)
Although I don’t know if this is possible, when the movie is finished, I’m hoping to try to show it here in Seattle. Thanks to Elaine, I already have one possible venue. Meredith?
I continue plugging away on my three sweaters, although it looks as if the Variation on a Theme Sweater is the one that’s going to win a spot in the Dulaan 2006 shipment, with the GuidePost Sweater as the runner-up in case the first-place winner is unable to complete her its duties. Although this little boo-boo, which TMK noticed even before I did, set me back a coupla knitting hours. Yep, that's the front of the sweater and a sleeve sewn together with a neckband knitted on to the whole shebang. You read that right; a neckband knit on to a sleeve that wasn't supposed to have been attached to the front in the first place. NORma!
I'll bet that was an interesting moment:
TMK: Um, honey?
Ryan: Yes?
TMK: Um, about that sweater?
I think my Richard would have come up with some reason to leave the room (or the house ... or the country!) to avoid being the one to break that news to me!
But didn't your stripes match up so nicely?
Posted by: MaryB in Richmond on June 2, 2006 12:03 PMI actually got teary eyed when I read this post. I'm so looking forward to finishing up a project or two for Dulaan this year. Here's hoping that life stays quasi-sane so I can!
~K
Posted by: Kittie on June 2, 2006 12:25 PMHow can we see the movie or get a copy of it. I would love to see it.
Posted by: Petrified on June 2, 2006 12:43 PMRyan:
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to see the movie...When information about it's possible distribution is available, will you PLEASE post it on your blog? Thanks--hey, I am finishing up my last Dulaan items to make it to F.I.R E by July 1st!
Pat P
Oh, MaryB in Richmond, you must KNOW my TMK! I was holding the sweater up, proudly showing it off, so she knew that (a) I had no idea that something was majorly wrong and (b) it was her responsibility to tell me, a moment which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Everyone, I will let Meredith know there is interest in seeing the movie but I suspect we will have to wait until the premiere to really show it around to any great extent. I'll let you know what happens!
Posted by: Ryan on June 2, 2006 01:05 PM*sniff*
You rang?! Hee. My lovely daughter informed me that today she googled the simple name Norma. My blog comes up the third hit, she tells me, after Norma Rae and Norma Jean. Kinda scary, that. So much for anonymity.
The scarf I'm presently working on, the one that I so nastily called "haggis," is actually really growing on me. And I better get moving on the final sleeve and the neck- and button band for that sweater I'm working on. July 1 is looming large.
:)
Posted by: Norma on June 2, 2006 01:51 PMI will work again on some hats and scarfs (not good enough for sweaters yet) but I sure could try making some teddy bears too if they are wanted.
Posted by: rho on June 2, 2006 02:19 PMTeddy Bears? Can they use teddy bears? I have a knitting pattern for bears... Oh, please let us all know, so we can get some bears in, too!
Cat
Cameos!? They interviewed me for 45 minutes! I am SO calling my agent...
And while I have not actually even *sniffed* any airag in the two whole days I've been here, I did have a mound o' mutton ribs last night. And, since I head to the Gobi on Monday morning, a bowl of fresh camel yoghurt is not out of the question...
Being back in Mongolia, I've reconnected with how utterly, hopelessly in love with it I am, and by extension how much I love all of YOU for caring enough to create your fabulous items (you know, the ones where there's some shoulder between the neck and the sleeves...) for people a million miles away. I know it benefits you as much as it does them (right, MaryB?) and that was the whole sneaky idea.
Fun fact: I just discovered that the lama after whom my blog is named, Danzan Ravjaa, was born in a remote part of the Gobi (boy is *that* redundant) called Dulaan Khar, or Warm Darkness. I've got to inquire about that and how that womblike name came to be when I go. Stay tuned!
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on June 2, 2006 03:48 PMSorry, Cuzz. Nought but two minutes of your mug appears on the tape.
So, if I turn the heat on during my commute home, will I be driving in a Dulaan Khar? Boo. Hiss. (Very cool, this, by the way.)
Posted by: Ryan on June 2, 2006 04:00 PMOMG!!! Was the knitted bear a Baby Bobbi bear?? I sent a Baby Bobbi bear in my package last year!
I think it was dark brown... I made 10 BB bears in different colors for various children (so my memory escapes me right now) and thought someone in Mongolia would love one.
I would love to see this movie... Could I order a video or DVD?
Another one on they way!
Posted by: Rose on June 3, 2006 10:44 PMI would be interested to see the movie as it would be nice to see where the hat I just finished, and maybe one more, will be going. This post is incredibly inspiring, as I'm sure the movie is. And just to confirm, yes, I have knit a hat for the Dulaan Project from Oklahoma. I'm planning to get it off soon. I still need to figure out if I have enough time to knit another. Now, I'm not sure who I send it to. Do I send it to you or to F.I.R.E.?
Thanks.
You Dulaaners are an inspiration to me - humour, friendship, kindness: this is compassionate activity come brilliantly and startlingly alive!
As a nun I may try to lead a life dedicated to these qualities, as knitters you have met and embraced them head on ( sometimes with head awkwardly angled due to unusual knitting design).
Thank you!!!
Ani Kunzang
Do you think you can show it in Seattle? I work at an LYS by Seattle, and for the last month we've been working on the Dulaan project. I know that a lot of the gals working on the Dulaan project, including myself, would be overjoyed to go see a movie about the Dulaan project and life in Mongolia.
Posted by: Sarah on June 5, 2006 12:00 AMShucks, I'm so sorry I missed the party and the screening. I'm plugging away on my Dulaan items, though.
Posted by: Karen on June 5, 2006 09:29 AM