However much this documentary gives you the feeling that it was staged, there is no mistaking the lead role's innocence and strength. The centerpiece isn't so much the cinematography, but that 13 year old girl's seemingly from birth choice to take up training an eagle to hunt. Even the hardships seem effortless to her. For example, finding the baby eagle and taking it from its cliff-edge nest, the high point of the documentary, finds her making hand motions to the eagle, putting it at ease like a mother eagle. Later, she pets it while feeding it, and snuggles under its already enormous wing. When she and her father go to the competition, this is when the film seems most staged, but how can a filmmaker do that and get away with it seeming natural? Then comes the hardest hardship of going into the mountains to catch game, carrying the 15 pound eagle (that's a stone for you Europeans) on her arm as she and dad ride on their horses for miles into the cold. It's as if David Attenborough will soon start narrating. The film's thorn is a non-indigenous soundtrack. Though sweeping, it sounds much too Western to give the film a needed dimension of authenticity.

"The Eagle Huntress" is a heartwarming picture...something you really wouldn't expect from a documentary! And, it shows that despite our many differences, many values are universal.The film is set in rural Mongolia. Fortunately, the narration (Daisy Ridley) is in English and you folks who hate captions won't have to struggle too much! It's the story of a very unusual 13 year-old, as she is working to be the first female ever to compete in trials with her Golden Eagle...and many of her countrymen are dubious about a girl...and a young one at that...having the right to even compete. Fortunately, her family is quite different, as her parents, particularly her father, are immensely proud of her. Seeing and hearing them interact...that was special and the film is both heartwarming and inspiring to know that many of our values and aspirations are universal. Very well made and well worth seeing.

As this story is about a young Mongolian girl who is pursuing her dream to become a traditional Eagle Huntress like her father, you might be inclined to believe the main plot is about emerging feminism in modern Mongolia. But the true story is something much more magical. A traditional father who loves and supports his daughter, and a loving daughter who holds her father in the highest regard as a teacher. Nothing could be more true and touching, as he encourages her to be whoever she dreams to be.... a girl who wears bows in her hair, laughs with her friends, and can ride a horse and tame an eagle as good as any man on the steppe. A must watch.

Really really good film ,fantastic photography ,great story very brave girl ,this will be watched for years,she deserves all the credit. The girl was so brave climbing down the cliff,not many would have done that with the mother eagle flying above ,that might swoop at any moment, what great trust and love between a proud father and his daughter.this film took us through step by step all the emotions and excitement of the training of her eagle.The moment her eagle flew in the competition in the fastest time ever was a tear jerking win that none of the judges could dispute and to see her father face full of pride,from such a strong powerful honest man of Mongolia .The winter filming of the hunt was stunning ,so cold the director did so well filming all this to show what a difficult life this hunting is and to prove she did it , Bell has produced a really good film of a lovely family living working laughing and winning together