Watch The Eagle Huntress

The film "The Eagle Huntress" is a documentary that was released in 2016. Directed by Otto Bell, the movie tells the story of Aisholpan, a thirteen-year-old girl who wants to become the first female eagle huntress in 12 generations of her family. The film follows Aisholpan as she prepares for and competes in the annual Golden Eagle Festival in Mongolia.

The film begins by introducing us to the region of western Mongolia where Aisholpan and her family live. We learn about the tradition of eagle hunting and the important role that it has played in the culture of the Kazakh people who live there. We also learn about the challenges that Aisholpan is facing as she tries to break gender barriers in a very male-dominated activity.

Despite the opposition of some members of her community, Aisholpan's father, who is a master eagle hunter, supports her dream and begins to teach her the skills that she will need to hunt with eagles. Aisholpan proves to be a natural, quickly forming a close bond with her eagle and showing impressive skills in handling and training it.

As the film progresses, we see Aisholpan and her father travel to the mountains to capture an eaglet that will become Aisholpan's hunting partner. This is an emotionally charged scene, as Aisholpan has to climb down a steep cliff to capture the bird while her father and male members of their community wait anxiously at the top.

Aisholpan's training continues, and she soon progresses to hunting with her eagle. The scenes of Aisholpan in action, riding on horseback and communicating with her eagle through calls and hand signals, are truly breathtaking. The film also does an excellent job of capturing the landscape and scenery of western Mongolia, which is both beautiful and harsh.

The film climaxes with Aisholpan's participation in the Golden Eagle Festival. This prestigious competition, which brings together eagle hunters from across the region, is dominated by men, and Aisholpan faces significant obstacles as a young girl and a newcomer to the competition. However, with her father's coaching and support, Aisholpan is able to demonstrate her incredible skills and compete successfully against the other hunters.

Overall, "The Eagle Huntress" is a powerful and inspiring film that celebrates the spirit of determination and perseverance. Aisholpan is a courageous and talented young woman who defies gender norms and challenges the prejudices of her community. The film is beautifully shot and features stunning visuals of Mongolia's landscape and unique culture.

In addition to its powerful message and inspiring story, "The Eagle Huntress" also benefits from a strong musical score by Jeff and Mychael Danna and celebrity narration by actress Daisy Ridley. Ridley's performance is understated yet effective, allowing the visuals and the story to take center stage.

In conclusion, "The Eagle Huntress" is a must-see documentary that is both entertaining and educational. It is suitable for all ages and will appeal to anyone interested in adventure, culture, and the power of the human spirit. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

The Eagle Huntress is a 2016 kids & family movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 72.