Documentary “The Mongolian Diaries” shown today

From one Place to the Next – The Mongolian Diaries” is being shown today at the Rui Cunha Foundation with English and Chinese subtitles (18.30 pm). Created by a locally based documentary-maker and explorer Joaquim Magalhães de Castro, it depicts the itinerary of Portuguese Jesuit Tomás Pereira, who traveled through the mysterious country about three hundred years ago.

Trusted by the Chinese emperor, Tomás Pereira was an intermediary between Russia and China in the negotiations of the border between the two countries that lead to the Treaty of Nerchinsk in 1689. He is also said to have introduced western style music to China.

Joaquim Castro explains to the Times that the work to be shown today “is a travel documentary that has an historical approach. Tomás Pereira wrote a journal about what he saw. The anthropological and ethnological observations made by Tomás Pereira are important in the documentary. We show Mongolia through his writings and perspective. He was one of the first to write about Mongolia’s nomadic life, food habits and other curious aspects.” 

The documentary-maker couldn’t conclude his project because he was not allowed to travel inside Russia, where he planned to film in Nerchinsk. The scope of the documentary had to change and Joaquim Castro met Kuhlan, a Mongol who learned to speak Portuguese in Cape Verde and who showed him “a universe of nomads, friendly shepherds, savage horses, national heroes, deserts and steps.” A country that “seems to have stopped in time,” according to the documentary synopsis.

Besides the documentary directed by Joana Couto and produced by Casa de Portugal, Castro’s most recent book “Oriente Distante” [Far East] will be presented for the first time in Macau, followed by a debate conducted in Portuguese with Yao Jing Ming (the Cultural Affairs Bureau deputy director) and scholar António Vasvoncelos de Saldanha. “Oriente Distante” is a collection of chronicles about Asian countries, including Mongolia. Today’s event is organized by the Rui Cunha Foundation and Cataio – Cultural Association.