Mongol ****

A contender for best foreign language film at the Oscars last February, "Mongol," from Germany, Russia, and Kazakhstan, tells the story of Temudjin (an excellent Tadanobu Asano), the son of a 12th century Mongol clan leader who grew up to become Genghis Kahn. Beginning with 10 year-old Tejudjin's trip with his father to choose a future bride, the movie slowly and carefully shows us the major events of his life. We see the clan culture of honor, revenge, horsemanship, and clan and family that shaped his life.

And what a life! Stripped of their wealth after his father was poisoned, Temudjin led a life of adversity and warring. His beloved wife Börte (the beautiful Khulan Chuluun) was stolen; he warred to get her back, won, and lost her again. Enslaved and imprisoned, he came back to war again. He treated his men fairly, and developed a simple code of law for the clans. Throughout, Temudjin's relationship with the strong and devoted Börte forms the backbone of "Mongol." I expect the sequel, "The Great Khan," currently in production, will have a similar thread.

"Mongol" uses old-fashioned live action with, as they say, a cast of thousands, to tell its story. The sense of place is striking, and there are many beautiful scenes of the steppes in all kinds of weather. Battle scenes are intimate and bloody, but not overdone or overlong. There is poetry in the camera work and the music, and breathtaking locations. And while a bit long at 126 minutes, the movie does not drag or bore. It's well worth watching.

Rated R. 126 minutes. Sergei Bodrov - Director / Writer (writer) / Producer, Arif Aliyev - Writer (writer), Anton Melnik - Producer, Sergei Selyanov - Producer, Rogier Stoffers - Cinematographer, Sergei Trofimov - Cinematographer, Tuomas Kantelinen - Composer, Dashi Namdakov - Production Designer, Valdís Óskarsdóttir - Editor, Zach Staenberg - Editor. Distributed in the U.S. by Picturehouse Entertainment. In Mongolian with English subtitles.

Principal actors: Tadanobu Asano, Khulan Chuluun, Amadu Mamadakov.