Mongolian Ping Pong (2005) is a coming of age story about three young boys in the remote grasslands of Mongolia. When Bilike finds an ordinary ping-pong ball floating in the creek, a series of charming adventures begins for the young Mongolian boy and his family and friends.

Bilike has never seen a ping-pong ball before. He and his family live without electricity and running water in a solitary tent among the vast steppe grasslands. The magnificent landscape here has changed little since the thirteenth-century reign of Genghis Khan. But life in the middle of nowhere is more exciting for a young boy than one would imagine. The smallest of details can become big events for curious Bilike and his best friends Erguotou and Dawa. The mystery of the small white ball leads to questions about the world around them and leads them on a whimsical journey filled with innocent mischief.

Join us for a weekend-long screening of Ning Hao’s Mongolian Ping Pong and discover how one ping-pong ball can change everything.

Mongolian Ping Pong

“A sneaky comedy and, to boot, one of the most breathtaking cinematic records of landscape and sky ever filmed” — Village Voice

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Duration: 102 minutes
Director: Ning Hao
Language: Mongolian
Subtitles: English
Producers: He Bu, Lu Bin
Executive Producers: Wang Chenglian, Liu Siping
Principal Cast: Hurichabilike, Dawa, Geliban, Badema

This film is presented as part of a Ning Hao retrospective, organized by Asia Society at the Movies. One of China’s most distinguished filmmakers, Ning Hao is a director, writer, and producer whose unique films depict the rapidly changing kaleidoscope of modern Chinese society.

This program is made possible by Dirty Monkey.

This program is presented by Asia Society Museum and Asia Society Southern California as part of Asia Society at the Movies, a series that showcases a broad range of films and filmmakers from across Asia and the Asian diaspora.

Asia Society at the Movies
Asia Society is proud to present Asia Society at the Movies, a new series of film screenings and conversations showcasing a broad range of films and filmmakers from across Asia and the Asian diaspora. Asia Society at the Movies celebrates established and emerging voices, contemporary films and classics, and documentaries. The series builds on Asia Society’s long and rich history of film programming. This initiative also serves to deepen understanding of Asian cultures—a core part of Asia Society’s mission since its creation. Learn more about the Asia Society at the Movies initiative.

About Asia Society Museum
Asia Society Museum presents a wide range of traditional, modern, and contemporary exhibitions of Asian and Asian American art, taking new approaches to familiar masterpieces and introducing under-recognized arts and artists. The Asia Society Museum Collection comprises a traditional art collection, including the initial bequests of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd, and a contemporary art collection. Through exhibitions and public programs, Asia Society provides a forum for the issues and viewpoints reflected in both traditional and contemporary Asian art and in Asia today.

About Asia Society Southern California
Established in Los Angeles in 1985, Asia Society Southern California (ASSC) is ideally situated at the gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. ASSC has played a pivotal role through creative programs and activities in increasing shared knowledge, enhancing dialogue, and furthering cultural exchanges transcending regional boundaries. As part of the global Asia Society, which was founded more than 60 years ago in New York City, ASSC has launched many creative initiatives and programs addressing current issues of importance across the fields of the arts, culture, policy, business, and education.