Prisoner of the Mountains
by Sergei Bodrov
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DVD details
Actor: Aleksandr Bureyev, Jemal Sikharulidze, Oleg Menshikov, Sergei Bodrov Jr., Susanna MekhraliyevaDirector: Sergei Bodrov
Brand: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Russian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 99 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-07-01
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of Prisoner of the Mountains
DVD Review: An unlikely war film
Summary: 4 Stars
I first saw this film in the spring of 2001 in my Modern Russian Culture class and enjoyed it, so it was a pleasure to finally revisit it so many years later, particularly since it stars two of the best Russian actors in recent times, Oleg Menshikov and Sergey Bodrov, Jr. (who would star together again three years later in 'East-West'). Though it's never explicitly spelled out, we know that this is set during the disastrous Chechen conflict and takes place in Chechnya. People used to American war movies might complain because it seems pretty slow-paced in comparison, with not a lot of action, but that's because this is a character-driven film. It proceeds at the leisurely pace so we can get to know the characters and watch as their relationships unfold. It makes the viewer think about things like the futility of war, whether there really are clear-cut good guys and bad guys, and what happens when cultures collide.
Private Ivan Zhilin (Vanya), played by Bodrov, has just joined the Army and been sent into Chechnya. Not long after arriving, his party is ambushed, and only he and the sergeant, Aleksandr Kostylin (Sasha), played by Menshikov, are left alive. The two of them are taken prisoner by the rebels. Normally they'd only take one hostage, but this time they decide to take both in case one of them should die of his injuries before they're able to use them as a bargaining chip. They end up in chains in the house of Abdul Murat, whose son has been taken prisoner by the Russians. While in captivity, these two soldiers, who are complete opposites, find themselves developing an unlikely friendship, with Sasha even becoming a bit of a father figure to Vanya, who doesn't have a father. They also develop unlikely friendships with Hasan, the tongueless man who is guarding them, and Dina, Abdul's beautiful 13 year old daughter. The plot thickens when Abdul orders them to write to their mothers asking them to come to the area and ask for a prisoner exchange. Sasha doesn't have parents, but Vanya's mother is absolutely devoted to him, and he is confident that she's going to come through for him no matter what. Overall, it shows the human side of war instead of endless battles and an us vs. them mentality, nor does it have the typical ending one would expect from an American film. The photography is also absolutely gorgeous.
This film is highly recommended to those who are interested in anti-war films, particularly when they're such a radical change of pace from the types of films made in Hollywood. The acting is also first-rate, in spite of not being a very action-packed film. It's a pity so few of the films of Oleg Menshikov and Sergey Bodrov, Jr. are available in the West. Menshikov had been established as one of Russia's best younger actors for awhile, but this was only Bodrov's second film, and helped to make him one of Russia's most popular rising young stars. Knowing he was killed in an avalanche in September of 2002 at the age of only 30 makes watching some parts of this film, given the perceived nearness of death and the topics of conversation the characters sometimes have, even sadder and more poignant. What a waste of looks and talent. Also very notable is the young woman playing Dina, the Chechen girl who forms an unlikely friendship with Vanya and whom Vanya falls in love with. And what with barely any films having been made about the Chechen war, this can help to give the Western viewer an insightful look into what it was all about, beyond simplistic media headlines.
Description of Prisoner of the Mountains
A stunning, emotionally charged indictment of war, this OscarĀ(r) nominee* for Best ForeignLanguage Film is at once 'thoughtful, moving (Roger Ebert), potent, engrossing (Variety),and unexpectedly affecting (The Wall Street Journal)! Two Russian soldiersa fresh recruit named Vanya and a hardened veteran named Sachaare taken hostage by Chechen guerillas after a deadly ambush leaves all of their comrades dead. Their captor, a battle-weary village elder,wants to use them as a bartering tool to get back his own son, held prisoner by the Russian army. But when the trade goes sour and all trust is broken, Vanya and Sacha realize their hours are numbered and attempt to escape before they're forced to join their comrades in death. *1996Bestsellers in DVD
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