Nomad
Introduction
I love watching foreign films that provide us with a history of their region. Asian cinema is getting a real reputation for quality these days and provided some corking films with the likes of Bang Rajan and Brotherhood amongst many. After being slightly humiliated by Sasha Baron Cohen with his Borat film (which I still haven't seen), Kazakhstan provides the backdrop for Nomad, a story linked to the real history of Kazakh national hero Abylai Khan.
In the 18th Century Kazakhstan has been invaded by Mongols, led by Galdan Ceren, the Jungar Sultan. The Jungar's have free reign in the country, never defeated in battle since invading the region. Kazakhstan is inhabited by three warring tribes, who much prefer fighting amongst themselves as opposed to their conquerors. Prophesy describes a boy who will one day unite all three tribes and enable the Jungar's to be defeated. Ceren knows of the prophecy and instructs his men to find and kill the messiah who can bring hope to his people.
Oraz (Jason Scott Lee) searches for this messiah so that he can train him for his future role, and finds him in Mansur (Kuno Becker), a young baby rescued from a bloody ambush that kills his mother. Oraz persuades Mansur's father, a high profile tribal leader, to allow him to spirit his son away and train him in secret. Gathering a group of young men and women for each of the tribes, Oraz trains them to fight as a team and the young Mansur grows close to both Erali (Jay Hernandez) and Gaukhar (Ayanat Ksenbai), who both Erali and Mansur have strong feelings for.
Can Mansur unite the tribes and defeat Ceren and his evil henchman Sharish (Mark Dacascos)?
Visual
Some stunning cinematography that is quite apt for such an epic film and story. The attention to detail in the production and costume design is very impressive, and some of the set pieces are quite spectacular.
Audio
2.0 Stereo - no subtitles. The film is supposed to be dubbed in English, however with the main actors speaking English as their first language (and therefore presumably dubbed into Kazakh for the initial release) it doesn't as bad as it could have been. Any decent film fan will tell you that performances are better experienced in the original language with subtitles.
Carlo Siliotto's score is suitably epic, with sweeping orchestration alongside Asian instrumentation.
Extras
None
Overall
Once more I'm very impressed with a film from foreign climes, and it's times like this that I really appreciate the exposure to foreign films that Reviewer Towers gives me. Nomad is a stunning, if slightly unoriginal, film that reminds me in parts of both Lord of the Rings and Kingdom of Heaven with a liberal dash of the bible as well; the latter is something that can't really be avoided when you see Ceren turn into King Herod and send out his men to kill young infants.
The cinematography is superb and I can't really detect different styles despite the fact that original cinematographer Ueli Steiger was replaced by Dan Laustsen, and on top of that director Ivan Passer was also replaced by Sergei Bodrov. This happened about halfway through the film due to both financial and weather problems, delaying release until July 2005.
It's a little odd at first seeing Jason Scott Lee in a leading role as the wise mentor to the young hero, but then I also didn't realise that both Kuno Becker and Jay Hernandez were quite well known Western actors until I was doing research to write this review. Ah well…
Not that original but a fun ride and suitably epic story. Good stuff…
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