Movie: Nomad The Warrior

Original Title: Köshpendiler

Original Releasing Year: 2005 

English Release: 2007

Country of Origin: Kazakhstan

Language: English Dubbed

Original Language: Kazakh

Genre: Drama, War, History

Nomad The Warrior Movie Review & Storyline –

When it comes to portraying the history and culture of the great Steppes of Asia, Sergei Bodrov is a master of it. In Nomad The Warrior one can feel attached to the wonderful history, geography and culture of the Central Asian region. Nomad The Warrior is a highly romanticized, fictionalized and dramatized account of the early 18^th century Kazakh ruler popularly called as Ablai Khan. He is best known to never submit to Russia and fighting epic battles with the Jungar/Dzungar Khanate.

The movie starts with a young and wise Kazakh warrior named Oraz (Jason Scott Lee) roaming in search of the “prophesied” child. A descendent of the great Ghengis Khan who will unite the ethnic groups of Kazakhs under one flag and fight the Jungars. Finally, he finds the child in a caravan. As he approaches to see the child himself, the caravan is attacked by the Dzungar horsemen led by their invincible warrior Sharish. All are killed including the mother of the child. Oraz is able to get the child to safety. He meets the Sultan (ruler) of Turkestan city and tells him that he has saved his child. The ruler becomes happy to see the child safe and offers Oraz to ask for a gift. Oraz tells that he wants the child as his safety can only be ensured when he is in his custody. The father after getting angry at first finally agrees to this proposal by Oraz.

Oraz then names the boy, Mansur (Kuno Becker) and teaches him to become a capable warrior. Mansur’s abilities are only matched by another pupil of Oraz called Erali (Jay Hernandez) who also happens to be Mansur’s best friend. Both the guys fell in love with the same girl, Gauhar (Ayanat Ksenbai), but none admits their love to her. Meanwhile, the Jungar leader Galdan is hell-bent to kill the prophesied child and asks his general, Sharish to attack Turkestan.

Here arrives the time for Mansur to show his mettle which he does with flying colours. Mansur kills Sharish, an unbeaten warrior of Jungars. Now the Sultan gets to know that Mansur is his son and he announces him as heir. In a twist of tale, Gauhar has been kidnapped by the Jungars and Ereli after hearing this goes out to find her. Here, in the palace Mansur is left alone as Oraz too leaves advising him to “be aware” of betrayals.

Galdan, to avenge Sharish’s death gets Mansur kidnapped. When Mansur addresses Galdan, he tells him that as per nomadic customs this is not the way to deal with a warrior. Galdan tells him that he will respect the customs of the Kazakhs and offers him his freedom, if Mansur passes a difficult test. Mansur agrees to this proposal and passes the test, that none has passed till date. But, still he is not released as Sharish’s mother asks Galdan to make Mansur fight one on one battle with another warrior. Mansur agrees and his fight is fixed with another warrior who too is a Kazakh. A night before the fight Galdan’s daughter Hocha (Dilnaz Akhmadieva) comes to meet Mansur in secrecy and asks him to marry her and become prince of the Jungars. Mansur rejects her offer profoundly, Hocha lefts dejected.

Next day, Mansur defeats the opposing warrior. But, he is shocked to see the face of that warrior. He was none other than his beloved friend, Ereli. After this incident Mansur flees from the custody of the Jungars with Gauhar. They get married later on. Now the time for final battle arrives when Galdan with the help of his “Western” friends brings a large army with modern weapons to destruct the city of Turkestan. As was the prophecy, it happened exactly the same way. Mansur slowly got the support of various Kazakh tribes and wins the battle. He as a gesture of goodwill sends the grandson of Galdan alive to him with a message. The message read –

“From this day forth, all the Jungars and enemies of the Kazakhs must know that from the Tian-Shan Mountains to the Aral Sea lies a land that has been inhabited by the Kazakhs since ancient times. All who dare to encroach upon this land will be beaten and driven out as has been done to the Jungars. We will treat our friends with open arms, but will show no mercy to our enemies.”  Ablai Khan…

Nomad The Warrior Rating & Verdict –

For good cinematography, nice direction and a great storyline I have rated Nomad The Warrior 8/10. It’s a bit more than what this movie actually deserves because Nomad The Warrior has one of the poorest english dubbing I have ever came across my life. The acting too is just above average. But, I just overlook these things because Nomad The Warrior is an entertaining stuff despite of it flaws. It is also that kind of movie which never lets you get bored while watching. So, if you are a lover of history genre then get the taste of some Kazakh one.