As Kazakh person, this drama passed my vibe check:)
As a Kazakh, it was a must to watch this drama and I really enjoyed it. I’m also from a small village, but more modern / settled type, however some people from my village also go to summer ranches (zhailau/jailau) to herd their cattle. In my village there are many Kazakhs from China and Mongolia, so this drama really showed the vibe of jailau and life of people there. Especially, I was amazed with the actors play and how they delivered real life situations and conversations so naturally. I had a feeling as if I was living with them in that village and observing everything from outside. Also, respect to the male lead actor who is not Kazakh but was trying to pronounce some difficult words in Kazakh, yet other actors’ Kazakh language was authentic. There were many funny moments that maybe only Kazakh person(who speaks Kazakh) could understand, because of course as in any other languages there are some phrases or sayings that you can’t really translate without altering the meaning a bit. Overall, I enjoyed cinematography, music, acting, and plot as well. So, go watch it!!!Was this review helpful to you?
Highly recommended adaptation of essays with ethnic scope
I loved watching this miniseries, that features some well known actors and actresses (Ma Yili, Zhou Yiran, Yu Shi) together with a cast that skillfully portrays the balance between ethnic minorities in the remote northwestern corner of Xinjiang where vanishing lifestyle competes with the hopes and toils of younger generations.Rather than repeating myself, I will just refer to my Notes about the miniseries, that illustrate many of the thoughts that can be triggered by watching the series. The story can be watched with no prior knowledge, but raises questions that push to dig deeper. There are many nice touches and details, and the director herself did state that although humorous elements were added to the play, they were kept within a moderate range to prompt the audience to reflect. The balance is kept to avoid too much heaviness, and the pace is brisk, while the cinematography enhances the loveliness of nature, despite its sometimes harshness. Horse lovers will be drawn in by the horse raising culture of the herders, who also use camels, and breed fat sheep that can be milked and used to make medicinal soap! The togetherness and mutual support even by those who have a beef to chew against people who shoot their mouth too quickly, and offend them, introduces hope in human relations. Of course they are shielded by the remoteness, but Hotan jade is known, so poachers do come to threaten the peace.
The miniseries grows on the audience, while details raise questions. Love, pain, discoveries and healing are there. The impressive Douban rating of 8.5 (then, now risen to 9.4!) is totally justified.
More in my Notes : https://mydramalist.com/discussions/my-aletai/125351-to-the-wonder-notes-about-the-slice-of-life-tv-series
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“I see you clearly”, and I saw it all very clearly.
“I see you clearly”, and as I sat down and started watching this show, I saw it all very clearly.I saw the beauty of nature, the breathtaking environment, the cultural heritage of the herders, the kind and warm-hearted Kazakh people and the ever changing times.
It’s a simple plot, but it’s beautifully told, with sympathetic depictions of the common minority folk and richly nostalgic evocations of rural life.
What a wonderful slow, character-driven story with its dreamlike quality, yet so detailed and personal that it captures and connects stunningly with so many lives.
I still have the lingering feeling of being intimately acquainted with the people living in the isolated yet beautiful landscapes of Altay.
The music score was just perfect and poignant; on more than one occasion I found myself shedding tears for the beauty of it.
I highly recommend this, and I am extremely grateful to the person who suggested it to me, as it is deserving of recognition and praise.
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Wonderful Reality Drama
I did not expect this series to be so good. So realistic and beautiful scenery. Love to see the captivating cultures.Such a wonderful work of art. I’m glad I decided to watch it and it was a gems. I wondered how long for these actors & actresses to learned the language. I found this series is an eye opening how wonderful is the grassland and how free their life is.
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Absolutely underrated show and too short
Thia show is absolutely underrated and too few episodes.But I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I just wish there were more episodes and that the stoyline could have developed a little further after the reconciliation of the main characters. Perhaps another trek across to the summer ranch? More one on one time in the flower fields and forests... Perhaps a wedding?
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Live, love and lost under the Big Sky
This is an adaptation of a book of prose by Li Juan. Changes were made to make it more suitable for live action. Read into that what you will.This series has received some well-deserved attentions and solid ratings. I think it is largely due to its unique setting and a simple and honest storytelling amongst the sea of samey idol dramas.
The story is a mashup of the classic When Worlds Collide and Fish Out of Water tropes. They are oldies but goodies. In this case, our FL finds herself in a remote part of the Xinjiang autonomous region which is the definition of remoteness itself. So, you can imagine her culture shock.
BTW, the show was set over 20 years ago, so things are simpler back then, but changes are coming, just like winter. The straightforward plot largely centred on the lives of one Kazakh village, their friends and their interactions with FL's small family.
Historically, the Kazakh are nomads herders and each summer, the families would move with their herds to their summer pastures in the Altai mountains. In that sense, I prefer the Chinese title of My Altai which is more meaningful.
As the show opens, we find the older generation confused about the changes and "nonsensical" rules from people they can't relate to. While the younger generation is squeezed between two conflicting cultures. It is this tug-of-war that is the foundation of much of the drama in this series.
It is obvious that this show doesn’t have a big budget and can be a bit rough around the edges. Nevertheless, it is made with heart and a focus on authenticity. Local "actors" are used extensively. I won't go as far as saying they discovered new talents, but they managed to grab You Shi before he gained fame with his recent movie roles. He is all singing and all dancing here. He made the effort to learn the local dialect. While not 100% fluent, it is impressive, nevertheless. He also did all the horse riding stunts, and he sang in the local dialect. Kudos to him.
As I mentioned before, the show is like a breath of fresh air (or is that mountain air?), and you quickly become enmeshed in the village life. Their lives are ruled by the seasons and daily chores. It is a harsh but fulfilling life. You know life is tough when luxury is a dry bed.
They only break from the daily grind during festivals and celebrations like weddings. They certainly let their hair down during those rare occasions. Friendship is renewed and romance blossom. This is also an area where the generation gap rears it head. Some of the older generations are still engaging in matchmaking while the younger generations are doing their own thing. In a way, the show used the various romances to spice up the plot but it is a bit distracting when the landscape is such a magnificent stage and yet we are stuck in a yurt, watching the elders negotiate again and again.
I’m not sure these complications is the production trying to inject some relatable plots and angst for contemporary viewers. What is obvious is their influence on the last ep. It really was drama for drama’s sake and feels rushed. I’m not sure if it is necessary but it ended things with a bang. The last scene was a bit of a tease for us who are shipping the OTP. Will they? Won’t they? Maybe a second season will give us the answer. ;)
Regardless, this is a good show. It deserves all the kudos for doing something different. I appreciate the efforts the production invested to make it authentic and sincere. With such a short run-time, it is an easy binge. Give it a go, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Finally, the elephant in the room. The treatment of ethnic minorities and the flood of Han people into those remote regions is a sensitive topic. Several plots gave us a hint of what’s to come. The show's portrayal is restrained for obvious reasons. Enough said.
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A love for Altay
Stunning cinematography, heartwarming story, and stellar acting. I really loved this drama - watching Wenxiu evolve from a timid rabbit, watching the love between Batay and Wenxiu develop, and tender heartbreak that followed. It's a clear view into Kazakh nomad lifestyle and you feel not as an outsider, but part of the village, celebrating weddings through song and dance, small joys in finding wood ear, and family discussions on remarriage and who the children should follow.I adore Wenxiu and Batay separately and together. They needed that three years apart to grow strong as individuals and experience their own dreams. I'm also so glad the drama ended with a happy ending for the couple. First drama of 2024 that had me so invested in the story and characters. What a joy to watch!
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A drama with mind-changing power about life and love
This drama makes me worry in its every episode that tragedy would be fallen to all characters. That shows how do I care so much about them. Every character is important and has meaningful story to tell. This drama is not afraid of showing human fragility and that everyone is prone to make mistake. When the finale gives a happy and touching ending, my heart is very satisfied. This drama tells a story about life, love, and how to go through after getting hurt, making mistakes, and experiencing lost of loved one. It teaches me a lot of things.I am surprised that the story is actually so simple, but executed extremely well. The setting and its details on physical as well as cultural environment are so rich. The plot and plot-twist are engaging. And the conflict and its resolution are flawless. This drama should set new direction and trend for Chinese future drama that we can create a unique and refreshingly new story by paying attention to our reality and daily life. It brings up the romance of living in countryside and maintaining cultural tradition, as family values, and righteousness. You don't necessarily have to be rich to be happy or prestigious job and live in the city to have a decent satisfying life. Being anti-mainstream is all right. The most essential thing is how to learn to accept reality and flow flexibly with the river of life.
As a muslim viewer, I think this drama also do some justice. Muslim group as represented by Kazakh people in this drama is well depicted as part of bigger Chinese community, living together peacefully with other ethnicities like Han and Mongolian. Watching this drama is the first time I see Xinjiang and its beautiful natural features. It makes me eager to watch other series with similar genres, portraying different side of China. I recommend you to watch this. May this drama gain much recognition it deserves and much much more national and international viewers.
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Good story about love and acceptance others who are different than us.
To the Wonder is a melodrama about being human and learning to accept others for who they are regardless of their culture, language, and race.My Reviews:
1. It is a heartfelt drama with no boundaries when it comes to love and acceptance of someone different from you.
2. It is a story about human kindness that melts her heart with love and acceptance regardless of culture, language, and race.
3. The cinematography in this drama is awesome.
4. It is short and simple yet engaging.
I give it a 7.5 rating
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Eu vejo você
❝Na cultura cazaque, a amizade ou o amor entre humanos florescem ao serem vistos. Então, "Eu gosto de você" em Cazaquistão, "Men seni zhaksy koremin", significa "Eu vejo você claramente.❞Uma obra prima! Em seus poucos episódios conseguiu transmitir leveza e profundidade. A fotografia parecendo que saiu direto do Studio Ghibli. Atuações excelentes, apenas com o olhar foi possível ver os sentimentos que queriam demostrar. Tudo muito bem dirigido e produzido. O desenvolvimento da história e a finalização sem defeitos. Terminei com gostinho de quero mais.
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"Eu experimentei a vida."
"To The Wonder" me fez ter saudades de casa, e por casa quero dizer a casa da minha avó, os cavalos de lá...os que estão lá e os que são só memória..., me fez ter saudades das palavras que só escuto lá, das comidas que como lá, das risadas que dou lá e das lágrimas que já derramei por lá também. Por isso, esse drama ganhou um lugar especial no meu coração."To The Wonder" entregou uma história simples, aconchegante, divertida e triste... bem realista, mas com uma faísca de esperança que é mágica. Foi encantador conhecer cada personagem e suas nuances, e cada cantinho de uma terra tão bonita e tão cheia de vida.
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