Close to Eden_
A farmer and his wife live in a rural part of Inner Mongolia with their three children. Chinese population control policies prevent them from having any more. The farmer sets out for the nearest town to obtain birth control. He comes upon a Russian truck driver who has ended up in a lake. The farmer takes the man back to his farm, and after initially being appalled, the Russian becomes enchanted with the peaceful life of the countryside and decides to stay. But his presence presages big changes for the peasants.
Starring
Bayaertu, Vladimir Gostyukhin, Badema
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
No streaming data available yet.
Check availabilityDROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Year context
Close to Eden was released 35 years ago in 1991.
Overview
A farmer and his wife live in a rural part of Inner Mongolia with their three children. Chinese population control policies prevent them from having any more...
Close to Eden is a Drama film with a runtime of 1h 59m.
CAST (13)
B
Bayaertu
Gombo
Vladimir Gostyukhin
Sergey
Badema
Pagma
B
Baoyinhexige
Bayartu, a local eccentric / Genghis Khan
BY
Bao Yungyan
Burma, daughter of Pagma and Gombo
V
Vurinil
Bowin, son of Pagma and Gombo
B
Babouchka
Grandma
Biao Wang
Wang Biao, Chinese pianist
BJ
Bao Jinsheng
Nikolay Vashchilin
Nikolay, Sergey's friend
Larisa Kuznetsova
Marina, Sergei's wife
JB
Jon Bochinski
Stanislas
Nikita Mikhalkov
cyclist on the street of chinese city (uncredited)
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Close to Eden about?
A farmer and his wife live in a rural part of Inner Mongolia with their three children. Chinese population control policies prevent them from having any more. The farmer sets out for the nearest town to obtain birth control. He comes upon a Russian truck driver who has ended up in a lake. The farmer takes the man back to his farm, and after initially being appalled, the Russian becomes enchanted with the peaceful life of the countryside and decides to stay. But his presence presages big changes for the peasants.
How long is Close to Eden?
Close to Eden has a runtime of 119 minutes (1h 59m).
Who stars in Close to Eden?
The cast of Close to Eden includes Bayaertu, Vladimir Gostyukhin, Badema, Baoyinhexige, Bao Yungyan.
What is the rating of Close to Eden?
Close to Eden has a rating of 6.7 out of 10 based on 59 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama