The Bodyguard (1979)
The setting is Central Asia during the Russian civil war. In the post-revolutionary twenties, when the power in European Russia was (officially) "fully in the hands of the workers and peasants", but the fight against the Basmachi rebels was in full swing. When a Red Army detachment captures Sultan Mazar, the brains behind the Bazmachi contingent, a decision is made to escort urgently the prisoner to the Bukhara province. The difficult mission is entrusted to a grizzled mountain trapper and conscientious revolutionary called Mirzo. His expertise is essential to traverse the precarious paths and steep mountain ridges along the way, impossible terrain for the inexperienced. A group consisting of Mirzo, his brother Kova, the Sultan, his daughter Zaranghis and slave Saifulla set off on this journey. They are forced to fight on the mountain ridges as well as negotiate the natural dangers and harsh elements.
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To me, this movie is perfection.
People are voting emotionally.
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
It's quite rare this little movie from USSR. It takes place somewhere in the South of the Soviet Union - today independent - republics; Afghanistan or Tadjekistan, something like this. And it seems to occur in the early twentieth century. But for sure, it has nothing to do with soviet war in Afghansitan during the eighties. And it was shot in 1979 whilst the war began December the 26th of the same year...Interesting little feature that speaks of fighting tribes among the mountains, natives fighting against each other, with rather convincing characters played by totally unknown actors; at least for western audiences. I sometimes thought of John Frankenheimer's HORSEMEN. I am not surprised that this feature is not known. It seemed to be taped off from a Russian channel.Of course, everything here was shot in natural settings, with good camera work and pretty directed action sequences.