Mongol campI know. Mongolians aren't native Americans. In fact, they're on the other side of the world. But replace the actors in this film with native Americans and you've practically got a film about native Americans before European contact.
Building on that, if you ascribe yourself to the Bering Strait bridge hypothesis, then the connection no longer feels so far off. I definitely respect the fact that there are many native peoples who feel this land has always been the land in which they were conceived but I present this merely as an open possibility. The cultural aspects such as the yurt (Mongol equivalent of a hogan), campfires, migratory patterns, and tribal warfare have striking social similarities to the tribes forged in America; watching this, plains tribes such as the Lakota kept springing forth in my mind. Yet, the most significant link between the two worlds is that the Mongol tribes were also considered ruthless and savage by outsiders who knew nothing of their social and political developments.
I can go on and on but the main purpose in opening the way I have is to justify this entry. Hopefully I have because this is a solid revision of what Temudgin (Genghis Khan) would go on to do. The narrative follows his unlikely childhood survival which was made possible by the aid of a Mongol friend named Jamukha who he would soon deem brother. From there, he carries out his revenge and has a vision of unity among the various Mongolian tribes.
Directed by Sergei Bodrov, simply put, the visuals are stunning. I'm a sucker for period action films like this and this one didn't disappoint me. Despite what I read beforehand, Mongol isn't really loaded with action sequences and Bodrov did a very good job of balancing the action with necessary drama. He also takes the time to focus on a couple cultural customs of the tribes although I felt myself wanting more in this respect. But Mongol is truly epic. It's easy to get lost in this world and I only wish it would've lasted longer. The good news is that this is part one of an intended trilogy.
