Mongol (Russian: Монгол) is a 2007 semi-historical film directed by Sergei Bodrov about the young Genghis Khan. It is planned to be the first in a trilogy about Temüjin's (Genghis Khan's) life.[1] The world premiere took place on July 31, 2007.[2]
The film was an international co-production between companies in Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. Shooting took place, for the most part, in the People's Republic of China, principally Inner Mongolia (the Mongol autonomous region), and in Kazakhstan. Shooting began in September 2005 and finished in November 2006. The film was nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as a submission from Kazakhstan.[3]
The second installment of the trilogy, provisionally entitled The Great Khan, is currently in pre-production and is slated for release in 2010.[4]
Synopsis
The movie is an epic story of a young Genghis Khan and how events in his early life lead him to become a legendary conqueror.
The film begins with the nine-year-old boy being taken on a trip by his father, Esugei, to select a girl as his future wife. He meets Börte, who says she would like to be chosen, his father, however, wishes him to choose a wife from the Merkit tribe. Temudjin convinces his father to allow him to choose Börte. He promises to return after five years to marry her.
On their way home, Temudjin's father is poisoned by an enemy tribe and dies. His father tells Temudjin he is now khan. However one of his father's warriors, Targutai, orders the other tribesmen to loot the dead khan's camp, taking the horses and livestock. Targuati spares Temudjin's life, declaring a Mongol does not kill children.
After wandering through the snow Temudjin is found lying down in the snow by a young boy called Jamukha. The two quickly become friends and perform a traditional ceremony declaring themselves blood brothers. Targutai, however, catches up with Temudjin and he is captured and locked in a cangue. Temüjin escapes late one night and continues to roam the countryside.
We do not see Temudjin again until 1186 where he is a young man. He once again is caught by Targutai, who wishes to kill him now that he is "grown". Temudjin escapes again, this time taking one of the tribe's horses. He goes to find Börte and brings her back to his family. Later that night they are attacked by the Merkit tribe led by Chiledu, because Temudjin's father had years before stolen his wife from one of their tribesmen. While being chased on horseback, Temudjin is shot with an arrow. Börte whips the horse which Temüjin is on, telling it to go home. Börte is captured and told by the Merkit leader that she is now his. Temudjin returns to his family weakened but determined to get his wife back.
Temudjin goes to his childhood friend, Jamukha. Jamukha, now a khan himself, agrees to help him get his wife back and attack the Merkit tribe, though only after a year passes. The attack on the Merkit tribe is a success, and Temüjin finds Börte alive and Chiledu dead with his throat slit; however, just as he feared, Bortë has already been forced upon and left pregnant with Chiledu's son, who Temüjin takes as his own. Temudjin and his men leave early the next morning with two of Jamukha's soldiers. Jamukha chases down Temudjin, warning him of his actions.
Taichar, Jamukha's brother, is later killed while attempting to steal Temudjin's horses; Jamukha and Temudjin go to war. When their armies face off, Temudjin sends some of his men to protect the families, while those remaining continue to fight. Being outnumbered, the army is quickly over-run. Jamukha decides to make Temudjin a slave rather than kill him.
Temudjin is sold to a rich man from the Tangut kingdom. Temudjin sends a message to Börte, indicating that he is alive. Börte gets to Tangut and pays the guard for the key to Temüjin's cage. Once freed, he gathers an army to unite all Mongols and follow some basic rules to live by.
Temudjin takes on Jamukha to unite the tribes. After his victory, Temudjin is named the khan of all Mongols: Genghis Khan.
Production
In an interview with Zoom In Online in June 2008, co-writer/director Sergei Bodrov admits that it was difficult making the film because of the lack of recorded Mongol history. Mongolians, like the ancient Mycenaeans, recorded and retold history orally. His inspiration for the film came from The Secret History of the Mongols, originally in Mongolian, and translated from Chinese into Russian over 100 years ago, which tells of Temüjin's childhood and marriage to his wife. He admits there was some artistic liberties taken with filling in holes of the story, but he claims that as a writer, he knew the character of Genghis Khan so well that it was easy to imagine what he would have done.
Another particular challenge on the film was shooting such a low-budget epic (estimated at only around $20 million, as compared to other historical epics such as Braveheart, the budget of which was $53 million in 1995 dollars) in such desolate areas with a crew that comprised people from over 40 nationalities.[5]
Cast
| Actor |
Role |
| Tadanobu Asano |
Temudjin |
| Sun Honglei |
Jamukha |
| Khulan Chuluun |
Borte, Temudjin's wife |
| Sun Ben Hou |
Monk |
| Ba Sen |
Esugei, Temudjin's father |
| Aliya |
Oelun, Temudjin's mother |
| Sai Xing Ga |
Chiledu, Oelun's first husband |
| Amadu Mamadakov |
Targutai |
| Ba Ren |
Taichar, Jamukha's brother |
| He Qi |
Dai-Sechen |
| Bao Di |
Todoen |
| Odnyam Odsuren |
Young Temudjin |
| Bayertsetseg Erdenebat |
Young Borte |
| Amarbold Tuvshinbayar |
Young Jamukha |
| You Er |
Sorgan-Shira |
| Zhang Jiong |
Tangut Garrison Chief |
Reception
Mongol was released in the West in June 2008 and received very positive reviews from most film critics. The film review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes gave Mongol an 88% "Certified Fresh" approval rating.[6] At Metacritic, the film received a 74 out of 100 rating.[7] Roger Ebert gave the film a rating of three and a half out of four possible stars, observing in his review that Mongol "is all but overwhelming, putting to shame some of the recent historical epics from Hollywood".[8] His dictum was echoed by A.O. Scott of The New York Times who hailed Mongol as "a big, ponderous epic, its beautifully composed landscape shots punctuated by thundering hooves and bloody, slow-motion battle sequences".[9]
On the other hand, The Guardian's film critic, Peter Bradshaw, was disappointed by this "huge epic, weighed down with its own ostentatious importance" and its "digitalized Mongol hordes sweeping across plains on horseback".[10] USA Today said "While the historical accuracy may be dodgy, Mongol is a sweeping and quasi-mythical epic..."[11]
Chinese actor Sun Honglei's performance has been especially singled out for praise by many reviewers, such as the New York Daily News which describes: "Honglei Sun, who, as Jamukha, gives so many neck-cracks, guttural howls and conspiratorial smiles he's like a Chinese Marlon Brando."[12]
Christianity Today gave the film a positive review and describes the film as: "Mongol is a Far East Braveheart, charged with the same sense of pseudo-history, movie heroics and inspirational grandeur."[13] However, Boxoffice Magazine panned the film: "Genghis Khan: Devoted romantic, caring father, inspirational leader? Um... this revisionist history of the early life of Genghis Khan leaves one baffled and unconvinced."[14] The Globe and Mail states: "As an epic action movie, Mongol is satisfying enough. Think Braveheart. Think 300. Just don't think too much."[15]
The film appeared on several critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2008. Mike Russell of The Oregonian named it the 5th best film of 2008[16], Lawrence Toppman of The Charlotte Observer named it the 8th best film of 2008[16], and V.A. Musetto of the New York Post named it the 8th best film of 2008.[16]
Awards
Won:
- Golden Eagle Award for Best Costume Design: Karin Lohr, SFK
- Golden Eagle Award for Best Sound Design: Stephan Konken
- Nika Award for Best Film
- Nika Award for Best Director: Sergei Bodrov
- Nika Award for Best Cinematographer: Sergey Trofimov, R.G.C., Rogier Stoffers, NSC
- Nika Award for Best Production Designer: Dashi Namdakov
- Nika Award for Best Costume Designer - Karin Lohr, SFK
- Nika Award for Best Sound - Stephan Konken
- Asian Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor: Sun Hong-Lei
Nominated:
References
- ^ Mongols protest Khan project
- ^ (Russian)""Монгол"". http://www.film.ru/afisha/movie.asp?code=MONGL. Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
- ^ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2008-01-22). 80th Academy Awards Nominations Announced. Press release. http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2008/08.01.22.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ Birchenough, Tom (2008-05-14). "Bodrov kicks off production unit". Variety Asia. http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6083/53/. Retrieved on 11 November 2008.
- ^ On the Circuit: Mongol | Zoom In - News, Events, Training and Community for Creatives
- ^ Mongol Movie Reviews. Rottentomatoes
- ^ "Mongol (2008): Reviews.". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/mongol. Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
- ^ "Mongol (R)". Roger Ebert. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/REVIEWS/944262138. Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
- ^ Scott, A.O. (June 6, 2008). "Forge a Unity of Purpose, Then Conquer the World". http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/movies/06mong.html?partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes&ei=5083. Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (June 6, 2008). "Mongol (2008)". The Guardian. http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,2283952,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
- ^ Claudia Puig (2008-06-12). "'Mongol': A sweeping historical tale". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2008-06-12-mongol_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip. Retrieved on 2008-07-21.
- ^ "Short takes: More movies out this week.". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/06/06/2008-06-06_short_takes_more_movies_out_this_week-1.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
- ^ Reviews: Mongol. Christanity Today Movies
- ^ Movie Reviews - Mongol. Boxoffice
- ^ "Genghis Khan as a cuddly family man?" The Globe and Mail
- ^ a b c "Metacritic: 2008 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2008/toptens.shtml. Retrieved on January 11, 2009.
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