Mongol
Dir Sergei Bodrov, featuring Tadanobu Asano, Khulan Chuluun, Odnyam Odsuren (R)
******
By Ruth Hessey
Twelfth century Asia. The vast Steppes of what became Mongolia. Nomadic culture, squabbling tribes, the never-ending struggle against a climate so harsh only the hardiest and most intrepid survive.
From his early years, through the battles and tests of endurance which cured his soul, to his marriage and subsequent wanderings - director Sergei Bodrov charts the evolution of one of history's greatest conquerors: Genghis Khan.Creating a film of this magnitude, which still manages to include a tender love story and insights into the actual man, is an astounding feat.
The cinematography of Sergey Trofimov and Rogier Stoffers, is superb, with smouldering performances and impressive battle scenes. The brutality is softened by the young Khan's passion for his feisty consort, Borte, played by Khulan Chuulun.
Despite its scale the film is lovingly hand-crafted with artful production design by Dashi Namdakov and stunning costumes by Karin Lohr, working with a rich score by Tuomas Kantelinen to create total escapism.