Let us now whisk you away to the Mongolian Steppe in the closing years of the 12th century for some epic storytelling about the early life of Genghis Khan.
Long before he got busy conquering the whole world, the great leader was just a scrappy kid fighting to survive the elements and his father's enemies.
Furthermore, he owed any later success to the influence of his beloved wife.
So says Mongol, an historical undertaking that was nominated for an Oscar (as Kazakhstan's entry in the best foreign language film category -- your Borat joke here.)
The combo of desperado action and stunning landscape make the film hugely entertaining to look at; it's educational, too, and were the hand-to-hand combat not quite so bloody and violent, Mongol would be the sort of thing you'd want to show students.
Mongol begins when Temudjin, the future khan, is a child of nine (played at this age by Odnyam Odsuren.) He is travelling with his father, a tribal leader himself, to choose a bride from among the Merkit people.
Temudjin's planned marriage is meant to heal an old rift, but before the boy and his father arrive in Merkit territory, Temudjin chooses a girl from another clan. Thereafter, his life takes a turn for the worse.
His father dies, leaving Temudjin at the mercy of dad's enemies -- some of whom were formerly allies. Chief among these enemies is a warrior named Targutai, who takes Temudjin's rightful place as tribal leader.
He loots the dead father's settlement and swears to kill Temudjin once the child grows up. Temudjin runs away and finds shelter with a blood brother, Jamukha.
Eventually, Targutai catches and imprisons Temudjin, but the child escapes; we meet him next as an adult (now played by Japanese actor Asano Tadanobu), still dodging the wrath of Targutai and other enemies.
At long last, Temudjin is able to go and find the woman he agreed to marry years before, and sure enough, Borte (Khulan Chuluun) is still waiting for him.
In his wife, Temudjin finds his greatest ally and advisor.
When his beloved Borte is kidnapped by the ever-vengeful Merkit tribe, Temudjin enlists the help of his blood-brother, Jamukha.
They go to war against the Merkit, and the battle scenes are wild and brutal.
When it's all over, Temudjin shares the battle loot with his warriors.
His fearless fighting style and his fairness to his men make a great impression on them, and his abilities as a leader are obvious.
There are further travails for the future conqueror, including life as a slave in the Tangut kingdom, but with Borte's help, Temudjin fulfills his destiny as leader of all Mongols.
Mongol, for all the intense action and warfare, is also a character study of a great leader and strategist.
It's also a nifty (if shifty) history lesson, a love story and a advert for the Mongolian tourist industry.
If there is one.
Above all, of course, Mongol is a big adventure story that begins with the proverb, "A weak cub may become a brutal tiger."
The film is in Mongolian with English subtitles.
(This film is rated 14-A)
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