Watch Kids' Reviews of
AMKA & THE THREE GOLDEN RULES

I liked Amka & the Three Golden Rules a lot! I especially like the typical behavior when the boy finds something that can have a lot of value - in this case, the gold coin. Once the boy finds the gold coin, he begins to use it to buy a lot of things and uses it for a computer service. The turning point comes in a very twisted, but expected manner. When he tries to borrow some money from another kid so he can have another hour to use the computer but he can't pay him back, it leads him to seeing his uncle and having a moment when he realizes he needs to get himself back to reality. After that moment, he begins to redeem himself from all the things he has done wrong and makes his little sister happy by buying her a gift.

The story follows a young Mongolian boy who finds a gold coin that transforms his life and spirals out of control.

The storyline shows some typical behavior of children and, even though this is from Mongolia, they are behaviors that children everywhere can relate to. For example, when the young boy finds the treasure and then spends all of the money it brings, his behavior is so typical. His older brother spends money on drinks as he tries to cope with the loss of his parents. Watching the boy play computer games and spending his money, and then borrowing money, in spite of not having it to repay, shows another type of additive behavior. I like the boy's behavior when his uncle tries to confront him by telling him that he needs to talk out the pain of the loss of his parents.

This is such a beautiful film in so many ways. It is a story told with real passion and beauty from its visuals to the storyline. The camerawork is wonderful. It has a great blend of close-ups and long shots that show us the village where these children live. This film was shot in Mongolia by a Pakistani-American filmmaker, Bob Ahmed and he really captures the nuances of the local people from the attire to the landscapes to the minute details. The background music works very well; it sounds indigenous and definitely adds to the entire film. The main character, Amka (Ganzorig Telmen) develops from a naive boy that we see in the beginning who is reckless spending with the money he gets from the found treasure to one that is more aware and responsible. A visit with his uncle leads to his transformation. My favorite part is when Amka brings his sister a gift that she so dearly wanted; it shows us the dramatic ways in which he has changed.

The message is about how greed can transform a person.

I give Amka & the Three Golden Rules 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Tom W., KIDS FIRST!

I liked Amka & the Three Golden Rules a lot! I especially like the typical behavior when the boy finds something that can have a lot of value - in this case, the gold coin. Once the boy finds the gold coin, he begins to use it to buy a lot of things and uses it for a computer service. The turning point comes in a very twisted, but expected manner. When he tries to borrow some money from another kid so he can have another hour to use the computer but he can't pay him back, it leads him to seeing his uncle and having a moment when he realizes he needs to get himself back to reality. After that moment, he begins to redeem himself from all the things he has done wrong and makes his little sister happy by buying her a gift.

The story follows a young Mongolian boy who finds a gold coin that transforms his life and spirals out of control.

The storyline shows some typical behavior of children and, even though this is from Mongolia, they are behaviors that children everywhere can relate to. For example, when the young boy finds the treasure and then spends all of the money it brings, his behavior is so typical. His older brother spends money on drinks as he tries to cope with the loss of his parents. Watching the boy play computer games and spending his money, and then borrowing money, in spite of not having it to repay, shows another type of additive behavior. I like the boy's behavior when his uncle tries to confront him by telling him that he needs to talk out the pain of the loss of his parents.

This is such a beautiful film in so many ways. It is a story told with real passion and beauty from its visuals to the storyline. The camerawork is wonderful. It has a great blend of close-ups and long shots that show us the village where these children live. This film was shot in Mongolia by a Pakistani-American filmmaker, Bob Ahmed and he really captures the nuances of the local people from the attire to the landscapes to the minute details. The background music works very well; it sounds indigenous and definitely adds to the entire film. The main character, Amka (Ganzorig Telmen) develops from a naive boy that we see in the beginning who is reckless spending with the money he gets from the found treasure to one that is more aware and responsible. A visit with his uncle leads to his transformation. My favorite part is when Amka brings his sister a gift that she so dearly wanted; it shows us the dramatic ways in which he has changed.

The message is about how greed can transform a person.

I give Amka & the Three Golden Rules 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Tom W., KIDS FIRST!

A ten year old Mongolian boy discovers a gold coin. Consumed by greed, his life spirals out of control. The film was classified by Emirates Airlines as "one of the great movies from around the world" in their onboard playlist. And reviewed as "Chilling" (Village Voice), "Stunning" (Plain Dealer), and "Breathtaking" (Filmthreat). The original movie in Mongolian language was released at festivals in 2014.