"An 18-year-old Mongolian herder recalled the incident as "a nightmare". . . . .
Bagen's father, an experienced herder, was away in the mountains looking after their horses when the accident happened.
"A smell of burned meat filled the air. If I had been here, it wouldn't have happened," the 42-year-old herder said."
The similarities here are remarkable! An 18 y.o. herder and his gruff sounding father - "ranch stiffs ain't never no good"
But, this belies the real mystery here L.C. - How in God's name did you come across a Chinese story about Mongolian sheep herders? You workin' on a Chinese version of Brokeback Mountain?
I'm a news addict, Jackster. I subscribe to the US version of China Daily News online, on facebook, and the story was on my newsfeed.
The cowboy is Mongolian by ethnicity, but the location is in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Xinjiang is the province in the northwest of China, where the silk road leads to Russia and Rome. The climate there is a lot like Montana, Wyoming. There are many ethnic minorities in China, and they enjoy many autonomous freedom in the autonomous regions, like the First Nations in North America, but with bigger territories, more economic and cultural freedom.
Brokeback lives; that's the truth. From another movie that I love, August Rush. "The music is all around us. All you have to do is listen." I was listening for Brokeback, like I do as always, ever since started living Brokeback, and there it was.
Jack and his old man. Like I said, Ms Proulx rocks. Then again, like she said, it was the invisible hand from heaven that gave us Brokeback Mountain. It was Ang Lee and everyone involved with the screenplay and movie that gave us Brokeback Mountain. It was the incomparable Heath Ledger that gave us Ennis Del Mar, or perhaps, the same invisible hand that guided his open and sensitive heart to give the performance of a life time. And for me, it is this forum of love that gave me insights to all the Brokeback blessings in my life. Thank you all.
As for writing a Chinese version of Brokeback, you'd better ask Ethan. I'd be glad to help, but I know the difference between a wannabe writer and a real writer.
And I am only a wannabe.
