MongolThe history books tell us that in the 13th Century, Genghis Khan would unify the Mongol people under his banner, and pave the way for what would become the largest continuous empire in history. Genghis Khan was regarded as both a visionary leader and a ruthless military strategist, a genius and a conqueror. But even the most prominent of figures in history were children once, and the ascent to greatness is not always a smooth transition. Mongol tells the story of Genghis Khan's formative years, before he became the emperor of Mongolia, when he was a boy named Temüjin.
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Temüjin (Tadanobu Asano) was a prince to one of many scattered tribes on the Great Steppe, and was supposed to marry a member of the rival Merkit tribe to appease a past grievance. However, when his father and he stop at a smaller tribe and Temüjin meets a canny young girl named Börte (Chuluuny Khulan), who wins him over against his father's initial wishes, his destiny--and that of future Mongolia--is forever changed. When his father dies suddenly en route back to Temüjin's home, the spiteful and traitorous Targutai (Amadu Mamadakov) seizes his father's horses and runs off, claiming he will be back to kill Temüjin when he is grown. From an early age, Temüjin is forced to free himself of his comparatively comfortable living standard, and begins fending for himself to survive under the threat of his impending destruction. Temüjin struggles greatly at first to find his footing--as it should be expected of any boy of nine years--but makes a friend in Jamukha (Sun Honglei). The two boys find they share a lot in common, and become blood brothers; their bond becomes a crucial part of Temüjin's molding into Genghis Khan...for better or for worse. As Temüjin grows older, his troubles with Targutai persist and escalate, as does the deep-seated animosity between the Merkit tribe and his family. Finally, Temüjin calls upon the aid of Jamukha--now a very strong khan of his own tribe--to aid him against the Merkit, and the two blood brothers fight side by side. When the battle is won, and Temüjin is tasked with what to do with his share of the spoils, he divides the wealth fairly among the warriors, for which he is mocked by Jamukha's camp. However, this generosity is appealing to Jamukha's warriors, who begin to desert him to rally behind Temüjin. It is evident that Temüjin cares for Jamukha, and vice versa, but they both have differing opinions about how to lead the Mongols. Temüjin learns from Jamukha--his strengths and his faults--and becomes a stronger leader as a result; by stronger, I mean he is merciful but just, and his code of laws gives order to the splintered tribes under his protection.
While Temüjin's life is truly exciting and almost unbelievable, it is Börte who is his "better half"; although Börte did sway the young Temüjin to choose her for a wife at a young age, it is apparent that this was not simply for mercenary means. When Temüjin returns to her small tribe after having lost everything to Tartugai, she honors his choice and is grateful to finally be reunited with him. Although when the Merkit kidnap Börte, and Temüjin is told by Jamukha that he must wait until next year to rally his army to rescue her, when he does finally go to save her, she has already killed her yurt companion and she is expecting a child. It's fairly clear to us that the child in Börte is not actually Temüjin's--that it was probably the child of the man she killed--but she does nothing to indicate this to Temüjin, and immediately returns to being the faithful wife. While not going so far to be a "Lady Macbeth", she does council Temüjin to make his own path, and not be trapped under Jamukha's sway. But when Temüjin is captured and imprisoned for years in the seat of the Tangut Empire, it is Börte who finally frees him from his shackles. Yes, Temüjin solicited a monk to seek out his wife, but the poor monk never made it; some kind of premonition or vision guides Börte to the body of the monk, where she finds the totem--a wishbone fragment they have shared--and she knows what she must do. Börte travels in the caravan with a merchant named "Golden Earring" to get to the Tangut Empire, and she accepts that since she has nothing to pay him with, she will trade her body for passage. Ironically, Börte's infidelity is the surest sign of her faithfulness to Temüjin, as she is willing to degrade herself to free her husband. When Börte shows up with yet another grown child, Temüjin tactfully (if not in delusion) indicates that he is her father. Temüjin's life is fraught with action and danger, but his two most important relationships form the foundation of his character--his camaraderie with Jamukha and his love with Börte. Mongol underscores that as a result of Temüjin's relationships, he was able to become the great leader to unify his people, and with their support transform from a hunted youth into a leader of epic proportions.
Recommended for: Fans of the developmental period of life in one of history's most intriguing leaders, a story of love and brotherhood, how those boundaries are tested, and how they can mold a man into becoming greater.
While Temüjin's life is truly exciting and almost unbelievable, it is Börte who is his "better half"; although Börte did sway the young Temüjin to choose her for a wife at a young age, it is apparent that this was not simply for mercenary means. When Temüjin returns to her small tribe after having lost everything to Tartugai, she honors his choice and is grateful to finally be reunited with him. Although when the Merkit kidnap Börte, and Temüjin is told by Jamukha that he must wait until next year to rally his army to rescue her, when he does finally go to save her, she has already killed her yurt companion and she is expecting a child. It's fairly clear to us that the child in Börte is not actually Temüjin's--that it was probably the child of the man she killed--but she does nothing to indicate this to Temüjin, and immediately returns to being the faithful wife. While not going so far to be a "Lady Macbeth", she does council Temüjin to make his own path, and not be trapped under Jamukha's sway. But when Temüjin is captured and imprisoned for years in the seat of the Tangut Empire, it is Börte who finally frees him from his shackles. Yes, Temüjin solicited a monk to seek out his wife, but the poor monk never made it; some kind of premonition or vision guides Börte to the body of the monk, where she finds the totem--a wishbone fragment they have shared--and she knows what she must do. Börte travels in the caravan with a merchant named "Golden Earring" to get to the Tangut Empire, and she accepts that since she has nothing to pay him with, she will trade her body for passage. Ironically, Börte's infidelity is the surest sign of her faithfulness to Temüjin, as she is willing to degrade herself to free her husband. When Börte shows up with yet another grown child, Temüjin tactfully (if not in delusion) indicates that he is her father. Temüjin's life is fraught with action and danger, but his two most important relationships form the foundation of his character--his camaraderie with Jamukha and his love with Börte. Mongol underscores that as a result of Temüjin's relationships, he was able to become the great leader to unify his people, and with their support transform from a hunted youth into a leader of epic proportions.
Recommended for: Fans of the developmental period of life in one of history's most intriguing leaders, a story of love and brotherhood, how those boundaries are tested, and how they can mold a man into becoming greater.