JAPAN PRIZE International Contest For Educational Media

JAPAN PRIZE 2004 : Program Details

This is the story of two young friends, Orgil and Baatar. Baatar is a 7 year old boy. Orgil is a 16 year old boy, who moved next door to Baatar’s house. Orgil is big but mentally challenged so Baatar’s father tells Baatar not to play with him. However, Orgil’s amiable character attracts Baatar, and they become good friends.

Orgil is looked down by children in the neighborhood and gets bullied. Baatar stands up for him, but is outnumbered, and Baatar is surrounded and beaten by the other children. Then, suddenly, the gentle Orgil becomes very rough, rushes forward and hits the leader of the children, in order to protect Baatar. This behavior results in Orgil being forcibly sent to a special care center for people with mental disabilities. The good friends are now separated.

In the end of this drama, Baatar hangs on desperately to the car carrying Orgil, but the car drives away.

Friend is a highly unusual and effective program for young children. It focuses on the relationship between two friends, one a young boy and the other a teenager with significant mental disabilities. While some producers would avoid this difficult subject or sugar-coat it, here the producer deals with the topic honestly, directly, and authentically.

The program includes both outstanding acting and a wonderful, if sobering, story. Set in an actual Mongolian village, the boys’ friendship causes the other boys in the village to tease and taunt the disabled teen. Viewers’ hearts go out to both boys, and when in the end the mentally challenged teen is loaded into a truck and taken away, the hurt and injustice are captured for all to see and feel.

Friend demonstrates that true friendship transcends age and ability, and applies equally to matters of race, class and culture. It thus has something to say to children and their families worldwide.

Ariunjargal Luvsantseren
Producer

This TV drama was based on a true story. The simple word ‘friend’ represents much more to everyone than we generally expect. In other words, besides existing in each and everyone’s unique world, friends are meant to create a special relationship between people and share their thoughts and feelings. Adults don’t seem to understand children’s feelings toward friendship and their true relationships. But in real life, trust, understanding, respect and friendship among children make the most memorable moments of life.

Our drama was well received by audiences of all ages. Although at first glance the whole drama seems to tell a simple story, it describes valuable things hidden beneath our daily lives. Baatar, the main character of the drama, does not understand nor want to accept the fact that poor Orgil has become weak and vulnerable in real life and is always ignored and teased by other kids of his age.

Since there are not many children around us who suffer from mental disabilities like Orgil, normal people are more likely to shy from them and try to protect their children from people with mental disabilities. Therefore, we must say that parents or adults themselves create that cold environment for children against unfortunate kids like Orgil and teach them to stay away from them.

Through this program, we tried to show the audience the true nature of love and that love, respect and friendship among people are created and derived from such simple things in life. This simple nature of life should be highly evaluated and cared for.
Thank you for giving strong encouragement for the artists who worked on this drama and creating an opportunity for us to receive this honorable prize.