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Updated: 23 May 2006
© Congee, used
with permission
Mark Dacascos in "Nomad"
THE STORY
"Nomad" is set in 18th-century Kazakhstan and tells the story of a boy who is destined to one day unite the three warring tribes of the country. Mansur is brought up by his wise teacher Oraz. His best friend is Erali - they even fall in love with the same girl.Mark Dacascos plays Sharish, leader of a group of Jungar warriors who try to kill Mansur.
The Kazahks had been fighting the Jungar for 200 years.
The adventure film is based on the life of Ablai Khan, a descendant of Ghenghis Khan and a famous historical Kazakhstan figure who united the three Kazakh hordes: Ulu Zhuz, Orta Zhuz and Kichi Zhuz (the Great Hundred, the Middle Hundred and the Small Hundred).
Ablai Khan was of the Orta Zhuz.
THE CHARACTERS
Kuno Becker as Mansur - a high-ranking warrior-in-training, future leader, later named Ablai Khan.Fansite: KunoBeckerOnline
Jay Hernandez as Erali, friend of Mansur and a gifted warrior who is intent on proving himself as the best fighter and the one who will lead the Kazakhs.
Jason Scott Lee as Oraz, a veteran soldier and master of martial arts who spends his life raising and teaching the destined leader Mansur to guide the Kazakhs to victory and independence.
Mark Dacascos as Sharish, Jungar general.
Doskhan Zholzhaksynov as Galdan Ceren, Jungar ruler.
Ayanat Yesmagambetova as Gaukhar, a female warrior and the love interest.
Archie Kao as Shangrek.
Dilnaz Akhmadieva as Hocha.
Roy Yuan as Abulkhair.
DIRECTOR
Ivan passer, first half, Sergei Bodrov, second half.PHOTOGRAPHY
Ueli Steiger, first half, Dan Laustsen, second half.WRITER
The screenwriter is Rustam Ibragimbekov. He's well-known in ex-Soviet states. The script is based on the book called "Nomads" by Ilyas Esenberlin.BUDGET
$22 Million - or more according to where you go ......
Trivia
Due to financial problems and problems with weather, the film shut down halfway through. Some filming was done August to December 2003, and the rest was done fall of 2004.Because of the break and due to having other commitments, director Ivan Passer and cinematographer Ueli Steiger were replaced by Sergei Bodrov and DP Dan Laustsen, respectively.
Ablai Khan was a famous statesman, and there's a university named after him, Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the set during the filming.
LINKS:
Article about Nomad in Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, August 2003. According to the article, Mark bravely ate sheep's brain when he was offered beshparmak.As far as I know, Jason Scott Lee is not related to Bruce Lee in any way.
Nomad image gallery - I don't know the name of the owner of the gallery or what job he worked on Nomad, but it's a nice bunch of behind-the-scenes pictures. As far as I can figure, he worked on the first half of Nomad.
Two pictures of Mark on page Kazakh4, around the middle, cimg2408 and cimg2322.
Traveling in Kazakhstan (site in German)
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