THE PLAINS OF MONGOLIA, AUGUST 1978

The clip begins with panoramic shots of the countryside around Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia. Endless plains in between mountains, a small settlement of traditional yurts, round tents, home to the nomads who live in the region and herd yaks. An isolated tent in a desolate landscape, sparse vegetation, no farming, great sprouting from the earth, a far-off road. The cinematographer is traveling with the first western ambassador in Mongolia (the United Kingdom’s) Julian Hartland-Swann. Shots in the rain follow from inside the ambassador’s Range Rover showing the wild and desolate countryside, including the bones of animals eaten by wolves. Later on, the camera finds three men on horseback in traditional attire; the ambassador invites them to talk and offers them refreshment. The men then mount their horses and leave. We catch a glimpse of an intricate saddle. The clip ends with shots of some yaks.