Mongol (2007)

Director:

Sergei Bodrov

Writers:

Arif Aliyev (writer)
Sergei Bodrov (writer)

Release Date:

20 September 2007 (Russia)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

Greatness comes to those who take it.

Plot:

The story recounts the early life of Genghis Khan who was a slave before going on to conquer half the world including Russia in 1206. |

Plot Keywords:

Steppe | Historical | Asia | King | Mongol

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 9 wins

Cast

Aliya	...	Oelun
Tegen Ao	...	Charkhu
Tadanobu Asano	...	Temudjin
Ying Bai	...	Merchant with golden ring
Khulan Chuluun	...	Börte
Bao Di	...	Todoen
Bayertsetseg Erdenebat	...	Young Borte
Deng Ba Te Er	...	Daritai
You Er	...	Sorgan-Shira
Sai Xing Ga	...	Chiledu
Ba Yin Qi Qi Ge	...	Temulun
Ba De Rong Gui	...	Young Taichar
Sun Ben Hon	...	Monk
Zhang Jiong	...	Tangut Garrison Chief
Amadu Mamadakov	...	Targutai
Odnyam Odsuren	...	Young Temudjin
He Qi	...	Dai-Sechen
Li Jia Qi	...	Mungun
Bu Ren	...	Taichar
Su Ya La Su Rong	...	Girkhai
Ba Sen	...	Esugei
Honglei Sun	...	Jamukha
Ba Te	...	Khasar
Ba Ti	...	Dzhuchi
Ba Tu	...	Altan
Ji Ri Mu Tu	...	Boorchu
Tunga	...	Sochikhel
Amarbold Tuvshinbayar	...	Young Jamukha

Directed by
Sergei Bodrov

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Arif Aliyev		writer
Sergei Bodrov		writer

Produced by
Stefan Arndt	....	co-producer
Bob Berney	....	executive producer
Sergei Bodrov	....	producer
Bulat Galimgereyev	....	executive producer
Marcos Kantis	....	line producer: Germany
Anton Melnik	....	producer
Ulli Neumann	....	line producer: Germany
Alec Schulmann	....	executive producer
Sergei Selyanov	....	producer
Manuela Stehr	....	co-producer
Max Wang	....	line producer: China

Original Music by
Tuomas Kantelinen

Cinematography by
Rogier Stoffers
Sergei Trofimov

Film Editing by
Valdís Óskarsdóttir
Zach Staenberg

Casting by
Han Wei Biao
Gulshat Omarova
Ui Ri Ji Tu

Production Design by
Dashi Namdakov

Art Direction by
Wang Min Kwa
Hai Ming Xiang

Set Decoration by
Xin Wei An

Costume Design by
Karin Lohr

Makeup Department
Cui Yu Bao	....	makeup artist
Weijie Dong	....	makeup artist
An Hyung Gon	....	special makeup effects artist
Xiaojun Jiang	....	makeup artist
Tam Ying Kwan	....	makeup artist
Hyun Ju Lee	....	special makeup effects artist
Chang Zheng Lui	....	makeup artist
Pingjie Peng	....	makeup artist
Jae-ho Sin	....	special makeup effects artist
Xu Qui Wen	....	key hair stylist
Yang Xiaohai	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Zhang Bin	....	unit manager
Fu De Hai	....	production manager
Andreas Dobers	....	post-production supervisor: Germany
Sergei Dolgoshein	....	post-production supervisor: Russia
Qe Er	....	production manager
Zhou Xue Feng	....	production manager
Boris Mang	....	post-production manager: Germany
Boris Mang	....	post-production supervisor: Germany
Greg Spence	....	post-production supervisor: Los Angeles
Fang Chun Ying	....	unit production manager
Xia Zhang	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anna Bass	....	third assistant director
Xiaoyang Chang	....	first assistant director
Xi Dzi	....	first assistant director: second unit
Ui Hong	....	third assistant director
Doo-hong Jung	....	second unit director: stunt
Dmitri Liu	....	second assistant director
Zhao Meng	....	second assistant director
Ding Xiao Nang	....	third assistant director
Gulshat Omarova	....	second unit director

Art Department
Talgat Asyrankulov	....	storyboard artist
De Wen Bai	....	props
Nikita Bestuzhev	....	storyboard artist
Ri Gang Chen	....	art team leader
Ri Xin Chen	....	props
Li Bao Dong	....	set dresser
Pei Jian Guang	....	set dresser
Hong Sheng Guo	....	props
Bai Jun	....	set dresser
Chen Jian Jun	....	set dresser
Bao-Tai Li	....	property master
Zhang Xiao Ming	....	assistant art director
Zhi Xiang Shi	....	construction coordinator
Zhi Xiang Shi	....	set designer
Zhuang Yan	....	set dresser
Chai Yong	....	set dresser
Jing Tao Zhao	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Ran Bi	....	boom operator
Yue Chen	....	boom operator
Thomas Knop	....	sound effects editor
Stephan Konken	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stephan Konken	....	supervising sound editor
Martin Langenbach	....	foley artist
Erik Mischijew	....	ambiences editor
Erik Mischijew	....	sound ambiance
Rob Nokes	....	additional sound effects library
Tobias Peper	....	foley editor
Laurent Rodriguez	....	boom operator
Bruno Tarrière	....	sound mixer
Hartmut Teschemacher	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Hartmut Teschemacher	....	sound effects editor
Xie Hong Yu	....	boom operator: second unit
Guido Zettier	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Shen Zai Cho	....	special effects technician
Do-ahn Chung	....	special effects makeup
Shizhen Guo	....	special effects assistant
Park Kyung-soo	....	special effects makeup artist
Lijiang Li	....	special effects
Huiguo Lu	....	special effects
Yoon Hyung Tue	....	special effects makeup
Jianping Xia	....	special effects coordinator
Wang Zhan Xiang	....	special effects supervisor
Mingxian Zhang	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ronney Afortu	....	colorist
Nikita Argunov	....	CGI supervisor
Arkady Dubinin	....	digital compositor
Dirk Frischmuth	....	digital compositor
Frank Hellmann	....	DI supervisor
Elena Karpunkina	....	digital compositor
Timur Khodjaev	....	digital effects artist
Elvir Sharifullin	....	digital artist
Ilya Shutov	....	digital compositor
Dmitry Tokoyakov	....	visual effects supervisor
Arman Yahin	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Shokan Aimarov	....	stunts
Nurlan Altaev	....	stunts
Daniyar Beissekov	....	stunts
Nurbek Bolotov	....	stunts
Murat Burkhanov	....	stunts
Aibek Daudov	....	stunts
Sultan Dikambaev	....	stunts
Kurban Dodarhodzhev	....	stunts
German Galuaev	....	stunts
Heo Myeong Haeng	....	stunt performer
Lee Hakchul	....	stunt arranger
Ji Juong Hyun	....	assistant to action director
Beibut Khomikov	....	stunts
Kanat Kudyarov	....	stunts
Dzhaidarbek Kunguzhinov	....	action director
Dzhaidarbek Kunguzhinov	....	horse master
Dzhaidarbek Kunguzhinov	....	stunt double
Edilbek Moldogaliev	....	stunts
Ilichbek Nuraev	....	stunts
Toichubek Serkebayev	....	stunts
Eric Shaipulov	....	stunts
Radik Shakmayev	....	stunts
Nodirbek Shaymardanov	....	stunts
Lyobov Volkova	....	stunts
Almat Yelegenov	....	stunts
Byung Joon Yoon	....	stunt coordinator
Jalolitdin Yuldashev	....	stunts
Yoon Jin Yul	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Assia Bodrova	....	third assistant camera: second unit
Jasmine Yuen Carrucan	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Chan Chan	....	lighting technician
Edmond Chan	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Raymond Chan	....	video operator
Sing Hong Chan	....	lighting grip
Chak Piu Chiu	....	clapper loader: "a" camera
Cheung Tat Chuen	....	grip
Florian Emmerich	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Florian Emmerich	....	steadicam operator
Guan Fei	....	camera loader
Jimmy Fok	....	best boy grip
Rafik Galeev	....	camera operator: second unit
Mika Gamzyan	....	first assistant camera
Lu Gengxin	....	camera operator: second unit
Naryn Igilik	....	photographer
Yelena Ivanova	....	director of photography: second unit
Louis Jong	....	key grip
Deng Qing Jun	....	grip
Wing Chai Ko	....	lighting grip
Raymond Kwong	....	grip
Khasan Kydyraliyev	....	director of photography: second unit
Chun-Shing Lam	....	key electrician
Chun Wan Lam	....	gaffer
Steven Lau	....	crane operator
Wai-Kwan Lau	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Wing Hong Leung	....	dolly grip
Li Fa Lin	....	electrician
Brett Matthews	....	focus puller
Ming Hang Ng	....	lighting grip
Yick Hang Pang	....	grip
Xu Xiao Ping	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Wu Chang Quing	....	electrician
Kirill Roschin	....	third assistant camera: main unit
Gulin Sergey	....	focus puller: second unit
Alexey Solodov	....	camera operator
Igor Vereshagin	....	still photographer
Shing Wai	....	lighting grip
Jia Wei	....	focus puller
Di Zhen Xiang	....	grip
Cao Chun Xi	....	electrician
Wang Jian You	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Wang Jian You	....	focus puller: second unit
Alexander Zabrin	....	still photographer
Viktor Zubarev	....	steadicam operator

Casting Department
Wuri	....	assistant casting director: China

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jun Chai	....	wardrobe master
Liao Xiao Chang	....	wardrobe
Deng Xue Fen	....	costumer
Huo Feng	....	wardrobe
Jin-Hua Gu	....	wardrobe
Bao-Rong Huang	....	costume supervisor
Ruibo Jia	....	costumer
Liu Jie	....	wardrobe
Chang Li	....	wardrobe
Dongliang Li	....	costumer
Zhang Li	....	wardrobe
Yang Lui	....	wardrobe
Hongyan Ma	....	wardrobe
Susanne Platz	....	assistant costume designer
Cäcilia Radig	....	costume aging assistant
Till Schuster	....	costume aging
Pei Gui Ting	....	wardrobe master
Rong Wang	....	wardrobe
Li Jian Xin	....	costumer
Feng Xu	....	wardrobe
Zhi-Bin Zhao	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Fyodor Kalugin	....	assistant editor: Moscow
Olya Li	....	post-production assistant: Russia
Sönke Saalfeld	....	on-line editor
Hervé Schneid	....	additional editor
Jessica Schulte	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles

Music Department
Matt Dunkley	....	orchestrator
Tuomas Kantelinen	....	conductor
Thomas Knop	....	music editor
Maxim Koshevarov	....	orchestrator
Sharon Smith	....	music editor: temps

Transportation Department
Bai Ming Fu	....	assistant transportation captain
Sun Le Fang	....	transportation captain: Inner Mongolia
Fu Fa Ming	....	transportation captain
Dong Zheng	....	assistant transportation captain

Other crew
Jia Ai	....	accommodation manager
Yannis Banuls	....	production assistant
Helene Borgardt	....	accountant: Kinofabrika
Naranbaatar Byamzhav	....	assistant: Khulan Chuluun
Liu Chang Cai	....	assistant accountant: China
Jenny Cazelles	....	technical supervisor: VCC avid systems
Si Chao	....	dialogue coach
Clemens Danzer	....	client contact: Arri Rental, Germany
Thomas Diesselhorst	....	scan operator
Wan Ding	....	location manager
Li Zhen Duo	....	customs coordinator
Jens Fischer	....	lab project manager: Atlantik Film
Solongo Gankhuyag	....	dialogue coach
Wang Gaofeng	....	production assistant
Janina Gerkens	....	avid assistant: Sky Editorial
Frank J. Gruber	....	legal affairs: USA
Chen Guiling	....	production assistant
Da Hao	....	playback technician
Cordula Herrmann	....	controller: X-Filme
Walter Hoeft	....	business affairs Kinofabrika
Zhang Hui	....	sound engineer: second unit
Tongshun Ji	....	accountant: China
Ma Jun	....	production assistant
Wang Xue Jun	....	assistant location manager
Joachim Kafemann	....	travel agent: Germany
Gulmira Karchalova	....	script supervisor
Oleg Khimin	....	cinematheka technical supervisor: avid systems
Gau Ming Ku	....	location manager
Maria Lavnikovich	....	production secretary: Russia
Harald Lehmann	....	technical supervisor: Optical Art
Yang Ley Ley	....	assistant accountant: China
Jing Li	....	assistant: Karin Lohr
Olya Li	....	office manager
Olya Li	....	production coordinator: Russia
Skady Lis	....	production coordinator: Germany
Zarina Mamyrculova	....	production coordinator: Kazakhstan
Santiago Munoz	....	trainee
Yui Naito	....	assistant: Tadanobu Asano
Jessica Petzold	....	production assistant
Tatyana Polyanskaya	....	accountant: Andreevsky Flag
Svetlana Ponomareva	....	chief accountant
Bastian Pruetzmann	....	senior head of client contact: Arri Rental Germany
An Ran	....	playback technician
Luydmila Rucks	....	controller: Kinofabrika
Lyudmila Rucks	....	accountant: Kinofabrika
Tatiana Ryabova	....	assistant: Svetlana Ponomareve
Siwa Sangaran	....	production assistant
Thomas Schneider	....	production assistant
Constanze Schuster	....	aging artist
Shirley Song	....	production coordinator: China
Andro Steinborn	....	business and legal affaires: X-Filme
Angela Tippel	....	VCC: avid assistant
Tian Wei	....	assistant production coordinator
Manfred Zacher	....	legal affairs: Kinofabrika
Nadezhda Zatsepina	....	assistant: Svetlana Ponomareva
Guo Cheng Zhao	....	assistant accomodation manager
Ou Zhi Zhong	....	assistant: accomodation manager

Production Companies

• Andreevsky Flag Film Company
• Kinofabrika
• Kinokompaniya CTB
• X-Filme Creative Pool

Distributors

• Benelux Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Best Hollywood (2007) (Hungary) (all media)
• Europa Films (2008) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Hopscotch Productions (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Monolith (2007) (Poland) (all media)
• Nashe Kino (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Picturehouse Entertainment (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Radiovision (2007) (Bulgaria) (all media)
• Shani Films (2007) (Israel) (all media)
• T-Joy (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Toei Company (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Works UK Distribution, The (2008) (UK) (all media)
• X Verleih AG (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Cinemateka
• Optical Art

Other Companies

• Beta Film  international sales
• Filmförderung Hamburg  funding
• Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)  funding
• Global Entertainment Partners  Avid rentals
• Konken Studios  sound post-production
• Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg  funding
• VCC Perfect Pictures  post-production facilities: Germany
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Монгол (Russia)
Mongole, Der (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences of bloody warfare.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Germany | Kazakhstan | Russia | Mongolia

Language:

Mongolian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Italy:T | Germany:12 | Canada:14A | USA:R | Ireland:15A

Filming Locations:

China

Company:

Andreevsky Flag Film Company

Trivia:

Kazakhstan's official submission in the Foreign Language Film category for the 80th Academy Awards (2008).

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)

An epic vision that works better as a work of fiction

Sergei Bodrov's Mongol provides something of a biography of the early years of Genghis Khan, at this point known as Temudjin. The film is destined to be historically flawed as there is little known about his life; this being said, Bodrov takes large handfuls of creative license. Bodrov's Mongol attempts to capture a man's rise to power in just two hours without making a rushed film; this impossible feat is Mongol's only true shortcoming.

Mongol is very much a "based off a true story" kind of movie. We certainly aren't seeing the true Genghis Khan. The film is riddled with historical inaccuracies, he is captured three times during the film, in reality he was only captured once. However, historical accuracy is not Bodrov's intent. Sergei Bodrov, grew up in the Soviet Union, a place where Genghis Khan is painted as a vicious killing machine. Mongol attempts to humanize him. This is the film's strongest point.

Mongol is just a good love story. Temudjin picks a bride at age nine named Börte and is set to wed her in five years. Soon after his father, a Khan, is killed. Betrayed by those his father used to command, Temudjin is left with nothing and swears to take it all back. This is the basic premise of Mongol. The relationship between Temudjin and Börte is portrayed as beautifully simple love. The film uses this connection to move the plot rather than bloody violence. Mongol does, however, contain several spectacular battles. Bodrov seems to have taken a page out of 300 and we're given a splattering of death sequences that while all together different feel and are shot similarly.

The largest flaw of the film is it's continuity. Bodrov, in order to condense the story under 120 minutes constantly cuts scenes in half. He will start a conflict and cut to it being over, leaving the audience to infer what happened. This is a double edged sword, on one hand it frees up time for necessary character development, on the other it makes the film feel choppy. Mongol is one of the few films that should be 15 minutes longer.

In the end, Sergei Bodrov's Mongol is an epic war film that succeeds not only on that level, but as a beautiful love story. The breathtaking landscapes of Mongolia provide an awe inspiring backdrop for the action on the screen. Mongol is a film of proportions not usually seen in Russian or Asian cinema. It delivers on a level that rivals if not surpasses many Hollywood blockbusters while keeping surprising heart evident throughout the film. Mongol truly is an inspiring film not only for the eyes.