The Cord of Life (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Alus pursues his music career in Beijing

Alus, a young aspiring musician originally from Mongolia, is living in Beijing and striving to build a career in music. He has a strong background in electronic music and is working to establish himself in the contemporary music scene.

Where

Beijing

A growing passion for traditional Mongolian instruments

Despite his electronic music roots, Alus develops a keen interest and passion for playing a variety of traditional Mongolian instruments. This newfound fascination gradually begins to shape his artistic identity and direction.

Where

Beijing

Blending tradition with electronic music

Alus initiates a paradigm shift in his creative approach by incorporating traditional Mongolian sounds into electronic music. His goal is to create a unique blend that bridges Mongolian traditional culture with the prevalence of contemporary music culture.

Where

Beijing

Confronting setbacks in his musical journey

While pursuing his unconventional musical vision, Alus confronts various setbacks along the way. His unique approach to handling music scores presents challenges that test his resolve as an aspiring full-time musician.

Learning of his mother's diagnosis

Alus receives a phone call informing him that his mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This devastating news marks a turning point in his life and forces him to confront a reality far beyond his music career.

Facing a life-altering dilemma

At a critical juncture in his life, Alus finds himself torn between two immense responsibilities. He must find the right balance between serving as a caretaker for his ailing mother and fulfilling his potential to become a full-time musician to prolong his professional career aspirations.

The decision to become his mother's caretaker

After weighing his options, Alus makes the difficult decision to take on the role of his mother's caretaker. He chooses to prioritize her wellbeing, despite the sacrifices this demands of his budding music career.

Taking his mother back to Mongolia

Alus decides to bring his mother with him to his childhood home in Mongolia. Returning to his roots, he hopes that the familiar surroundings of his homeland will provide comfort and care for his mother amid her declining condition.

Where

Mongolia

His mother's condition worsens

Things become further complicated as his mother's dementia progressively worsens over time. Her deteriorating state adds mounting pressure to Alus's already challenging situation as a caretaker.

Where

Mongolia

The fear of his mother getting lost

As his mother's Alzheimer's advances, she becomes increasingly at risk of wandering off and getting lost. Alus grows deeply concerned for her safety and realizes he must take proactive measures to protect her.

Where

Mongolia

Tying his mother with a rope

In a proactive yet heartbreaking measure, Alus decides to tie his mother to himself using a rope to prevent her from getting lost. This drastic act reflects the depth of his sacrifice and the lengths he will go to keep her safe.

Where

Mongolia

The rope as a symbol of connection

The rope comes to symbolize the equivalence of an umbilical cord, elevating the emotional connection between Alus and his mother. Through this physical bond, their thought processes and hearts remain intertwined despite the disease consuming her mind.

Where

Mongolia

A role reversal between mother and son

Alus acknowledges that his mother has reverted to an infant-esque situation that requires his constant care, mirroring how she once cared for him as a child. This profound role reversal deepens his sense of duty and love as he embraces the responsibility of caring for her completely.

Where

Mongolia