The Eagle Huntress

God is great.

You are an innocent lamb,

but this eagle deserves an offering.

My dear eagle.

The time has come for you...

to fly up to the sky and be free.

We have been together for a long time.

And you have only brought

good things to me.

It is not easy for me to let you go.

But I will release you,

because everything has its end.

It's only right to let you go.

Fly to the sky.

The lamb is just for you.

This will be the last meal from me.

My name is Aisholpan.

This May I turned 13.

How were your classes?

Good. Straight A's.

I was born in the Altai Mountains.

A child of the nomads.

I help my dad a lot.

We do everything together.

- There it is.

- Where?

There it is.

Got him!

I love my dad.

He's like a teacher to me.

My dad and my grandpa

are eagle hunters.

In our family...

we have been eagle hunters...

for generations.

It is not a choice.

It's a calling

that has to be in your blood.

When it snows...

we go to the mountains

with the eagles and hunt foxes.

A hunter and a catcher

work together as a team.

We use the skin for fur hats...

and warm clothes.

We compete at festivals.

I have become a champion two times.

Got into the top five many times.

I was hooked.

The horses...

the clothing, the equipment.

Looking at my dad and grandpa...

I want to do the same.

Let me hold it.

Ever since she was young...

Aisholpan has been

fascinated by the eagles.

Hold this.

Please hold it gently.

She would watch her dad

feeding them...

utterly transfixed.

She definitely takes after him, not me.

Sadly, that doesn't leave

much time for me and her.

But I don't resent that.

I just want my daughter to love her life.

Great.

You're a natural.

It's being forceful, pressing.

She holds the eagle with strength.

She's not afraid of it at all.

Maybe it's in her blood as well.

Because all the men in my family

have been eagle hunters...

my dream is to become the first

eagle huntress in Mongolia.

No.

- No.

- Girls do not eagle hunt.

Elder people disapprove of it.

Men go eagle hunting.

This is the legacy of our forefathers.

Women are weaker and more fragile.

While men go eagle hunting...

women are at home

preparing tea and water.

They milk cows,

process milk, make kurt.

It's hard for girls

to go to the mountains...

and chase animals on horses.

They get cold.

Aisholpan says she wants to be

an eagle hunter...

to continue our tradition.

People say she should not

be doing this.

So I worry for her.

But I think girls and boys are equal.

Girls can do anything

boys can if they try.

My father taught me...

and I don't want to let her down.

I began teaching Aisholpan...

showing her how to cover

the eagle's head.

Then she learned...

to pull the rabbit along.

Yeah.

After trying this...

we tried calling the eagle to eat.

Where is your voice?

Raise your arm!

That's good!

She learned to fly the eagle

from the mountain.

Launch it this way.

Pay attention. Again.

Release. Again.

Okay, good. Congratulations.

Even some men can't do that.

Are you hungry? Do your feet hurt?

Are you tired?

Are you hot?

Are you hungry?

I'll feed you when we get home.

We go to school by the Syr river...

because there is no school

in our area.

Let's play again!

I live in the dormitory.

I've been living here

since the 2nd grade.

It's been so long since

we've known each other.

We've lived together

for 5 years in the dorm.

I've lived here for 7 years.

We are all neighbours.

We study and work.

We are at school for only 5 days.

On Fridays we go home.

My brother and sister

live with me in the dormitory.

I take care of them.

Good morning, teacher!

- How are you?

- I'm fine!

I feel good.

I have good grades at school...

because I want to be

a doctor someday.

But right now, all I can think about

is becoming an eagle huntress.

Is dinner ready?

Place the spoons. Bring the onions.

May God bless you.

How are your classes going?

I wrestled everyone in my class...

including all the boys...

and won.

One boy was sitting

and looking at me as if he was frozen.

Quick, feed this tough child.

Since she is serious...

I figure, let her bring up her own eagle

and train it.

It is said that legendary eagle hunters...

have captured their eaglets

in these mountains.

May we be so lucky!

There it is!

Oh my God, two eaglets in one nest.

Some good looking eaglets right there.

Do you see, my child?

There, next to that yellow stone...

there are two eaglets.

They used to say the eagles

were strong enough...

to bring you little

mountain goats.

Do you see them?

We're going to have to

climb up that side...

and then descend from the top.

This is going to be tough.

We'll need to use the rope.

Do not be afraid, okay?

It's a strong knot!

Should I climb down here?

Toward that outcrop over there?

Just be careful, use your arms

to steady yourself.

Yep, that's the way.

Hold on tightly.

In the name of God.

Never let go of the rope.

Don't worry. Okay, go.

- Give me some more rope, Dad.

- Back, back. Steady.

Grab onto the stone tightly.

Don't be scared.

Keep on moving down.

It's getting tough there.

Let the rope out, Dad.

Give me some slack!

Just hold on tight.

Hold tight I said.

Yeah, yeah.

Go slowly. No more slip-ups!

More rope!

That's enough.

Are you holding on tight?

Yes.

Look! There they are!

I'm getting close!

Still more rope, Aisholpan?

Yes, more rope.

More blue rope! I'm with the eaglets!

You made it?

I'm really there!

A little more line.

There are two eagles

nesting side by side.

- Should I send down the blanket?

- Yep!

You got it?

Bring it over this way.

- Which way?

- This way.

Let it go a little bit more.

That's it.

Try to cover the female.

- Say again?

- Pull it.

What? The blue rope?

Yeah.

Here you go.

Hurry up! The mother is coming.

Please, please, more blue rope.

Please release more rope!

- Hurry!

- Don't pull.

She fell down.

She keeps falling away from me.

Keep at it!

Give me some slack on this other rope.

Let it out more!

Is that enough?

Hurry up! The mother is coming.

Shoo! Go away!

Caught it!

My child, is it ready to go?

Wait a sec, let me tie this off.

All right, ready.

Should I reel it in now?

We did it!

Now, let's see what we've got here.

Oh, God. Oh, God, look at this!

You did really well.

Was it difficult to get to the nest?

You've found yourself

a really great specimen!

All being well...

we can start to train

your baby eagle this autumn.

This eaglet is a sign of good luck!

She will bring good fortune

to our home.

Pop it there.

By God, a little female eaglet!

So you took it all by yourself?

Yup, I went and got it.

It was tough.

I've never seen a nest

that was so hard to reach!

- Was it tough? Are you tired?

- Nope, I'm fine.

As for me, I got all sweaty.

I'm exhausted!

I started slipping on the rocks...

but I grabbed the rope

and hauled myself back up.

You proved yourself today.

You were as brave as any man.

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