Nomad: The Warrior (2005) Köshpendiler (original title)

Directors:

Sergey Bodrov
Ivan Passer

Writer:

Rustam Ibragimbekov

Release Date:

17 July 2005 (Kazakhstan)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Tagline:

Courage know no limit

Plot:

An historical epic set in 18th-century Kazakhstan, where a young man is destined to unite the country's three warring tribes.

Plot Keywords:

Kazakhstan | 1800s | Nomad

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Kuno Becker	...	Mansur
Jay Hernandez	...	Erali
Jason Scott Lee	...	Oraz
Doskhan Zholzhaksynov	...	Galdan Ceren, the Jungar Sultan
Ayanat Ksenbai	...	Gaukhar (as Ayana Yesmagambetova)
Mark Dacascos	...	Sharish
Ashir Chokubayev		(as Ashir Shokibaev)
Zhanas Iskakov
Almaikhan Kenzhebekova
Tungyshbai Dzhamankulov		(as Tungishbai Zhamankulov)
Erik Zholzhaksynov	...	Barak
Dilnaz Akhmadieva	...	Hocha
Termirkhan Tursingaliev
Asylbolat Ismagulov
Sabit Orazbaev
Yergali Urazimbetov		(as Ergali Orazimbetov)
Vladimir Begma
Aziz Beyshenaliev	...	Ragbat
Baiten Omarov
Aldabek Shalbayev
Shingiz Krykbaev
Baikenzhe Belbayev
Kuman Tastanbekov
Linda Nigmatullina
Dimash Rakish
Nurgali Nursultan
Kuralai Zhunisbekova
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Blum	...	Shaman (voice: English version) (as Steven Jay Blum)
Richard Epcar	...	Sultan Wali (voice: English version)
David Gore	...	(voice)
Alexander Haney	...	(voice)
April Hong	...	Hotha (voice: English version)
Susan Kellermann	...	Babooshka (voice: English version)
Bai Ling	...	Gaukhar (voice: English version)
Paul Nakauchi	...	Galdan (voice: English version)
Kirk Thornton	...	Barak (voice: English version)
Arman Zajic	...	Young Mansur (voice: English version)

Directed by
Sergey Bodrov
Ivan Passer

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rustam Ibragimbekov

Produced by
Ram Bergman	....	producer
Pavel Douvidzon	....	producer
Yan Fisher-Romanovsky	....	production associate producer
Milos Forman	....	executive producer
Rustam Ibragimbekov	....	producer
Maroussia Morgan	....	co-producer
David Pomier	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Carlo Siliotto

Cinematography by
Dan Laustsen
Ueli Steiger

Film Editing by
Ivan Lebedev
Rick Shaine

Casting by
Jose Villaverde

Production Design by
Miljen Kreka Kljakovic

Art Direction by
Mladen Lisavac
Domenico Sica		(co-art director)
Branimir Babic		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Marit Allen
Michael O'Connor

Makeup Department
Orlando Bassi	....	wig maker and supplier
Vance Hartwell	....	special makeup effects artist
Marc Hollenstein	....	makeup artist
Bill Johnson	....	makeup effects coordinator
Martina Kohl	....	makeup supervisor
Martina Kohl	....	makeup supervisor: stunts
Thomas Nellen	....	hair designer
Thomas Nellen	....	makeup designer
Jekaterina Oertel	....	makeup artist (as Katharina Oertel)
Giacomo Peier	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Brian Hathaway	....	unit manager
Teodor Matveev	....	production manager
Chris Miller	....	post-production supervisor
Valentina Plugaru	....	production manager
Alec Schulmann	....	production manager
Vladimir Skakun	....	unit manager
Viktor Taranov	....	production manager
Sasha Voronin	....	assistant production manager
Susan Warwicker	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bart Bailey	....	second assistant director
Paul Bennett	....	third assistant director
Aron Clayton	....	third assistant director
Patrick Clayton	....	first assistant director
Sean Clayton	....	second assistant director
Naryn Igilik	....	assistant director
Jay Mark Johnson	....	second unit director
Fletcher Rodley	....	second second assistant director
Scott Rorie	....	second second assistant director
Kirill Roschin	....	third assistant director
Gareth Unwin	....	first assistant director
Jim Vickers	....	second unit director
Vladimir Zhelezniakov	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jerry Bingham	....	storyboard artist
Giancarlo Di Fusco	....	painter
Tommaso Dubla	....	head painter
Ilia Iovu	....	property master
Glauco Isidori	....	painter
Dierdre Kane	....	on-set dresser
Domenico Reordino	....	painter
Vladimir Richter	....	metal armour
Vladimir Richter	....	props
Sirio Sugamele	....	lead person
Mickey Woolfson	....	property master

Sound Department
Randy Babajtis	....	sound effects editor
Jeremy Balko	....	foley mixer
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Benjamin Bober	....	boom operator
Vladislav Boyadjiev	....	ProTools engineer
Dhyana Carlton-Tims	....	assistant dialogue editor
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Olivier Dandré	....	sound mixer: second unit
Andreas Drost	....	dubbing recordist
Ezra Dweck	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael J. Fox	....	adr mixer
Jerry Gilbert	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Hinkley	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Cody King	....	assistant sound effects editor
Shawn London	....	sound editor
Jonathan Miller	....	supervising sound designer
Jonathan Miller	....	supervising sound editor
Andrew Morgado	....	foley editor
Rob Nokes	....	supervising sound editor
Eric Reuveni	....	adr mixer
André Rigaut	....	sound mixer
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist
Marco Streccioni	....	sound engineer
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Ron Colucci	....	special effects technician
Yves De Bono	....	special effects supervisor
Phil H. Fravel	....	special effects technician
Ken Gorrell	....	on set foreman
David Hill	....	special effects technician
Terry W. King	....	special effects technician
Roger Nichols	....	senior technician
The Nomad	....	special effects foreman
Dima Stesenko	....	special effects supervisor
Russell Tyrrell	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Victor DiMichina	....	imaging supervisor
Jim Gorman	....	digital compositor
Robert Grasmere	....	cinematographer: visual effects unit
Robert Grasmere	....	visual effects supervisor
Jay Mark Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor
Bonnie Kanner	....	visual effects executive producer: Pixel Magic
Steven Lloyd	....	digital artist
Patrick Paul Mullane	....	digital compositor: Pixelmagic
Reid Paul	....	senior digital effects supervisor
Reid Paul	....	visual effects producer
Paul Taglianetti	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Nurlan Altaev	....	stunts
Nurbek Bolotov	....	stunts
Oleg Botin	....	stunts
Murat Burkhanov	....	stunt double
Murat Burkhanov	....	stunts
German Galuaev	....	stunt performer
German Galuaev	....	stunts
Beibut Khomikov	....	stunts
Zhaidarbek Kunguzhinov	....	stunt double
Richard Norton	....	fight coordinator
Vladimir Orlov	....	stunt coordinator
Vladimir Orlov	....	sword fight choreographer
Slava Samuchov	....	stunt double
Slava Samuchov	....	stunts
Eric Shaipulov	....	stunts
Nodirbek Shaymardanov	....	stunts
Jim Vickers	....	stunt coordinator: second unit
Almat Yelegenov	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary L. Camp	....	Steadicam operator
Gary L. Camp	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Václav Cermak	....	rigging gaffer
Birgit Dierken	....	assistant camera
Scott Drinon	....	technocrane operator
Paul A. Edwards	....	camera operator
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip
Jesper Find	....	Steadicam focus puller
Karsten Jacobsen	....	Steadicam operator
Charles Laughon	....	video assist operator
Anatoliy Neznanov	....	best boy
Reid Russell	....	camera operator: horse camera
Reid Russell	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Joe Sanchez	....	key first assistant camera
Andreas Schneuwly	....	first assistant camera: second camera
Andrey Schtaff	....	best boy grip
Sergey Shkreba	....	electrician (as Sergei Shkreba)
Stefan Sosna	....	second assistant camera
Alexandra Weiss	....	camera loader

Casting Department
Marc Handler	....	voice casting
Nick Pellegrino	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lizzette Brodsky	....	assistant costume designer
Lizzette Brodsky	....	costumer
Anna Jartin	....	costume textile artist
Anna Kovacevic	....	wardrobe mistress
Severina Nedelchuk	....	costume supervisor
Joanna Weaving	....	costume breakdown artist

Editorial Department
Philip Harrelson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ludovico Fulci	....	music assistant
Dave Tinsley	....	music editor
Christopher Violette	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Oleg Gres	....	unit transportation coordinator

Other crew
Claudia Antonucci	....	publicist
Oleg Botin	....	horse master
Polina Douvidzon	....	assistant to producer
Jessica Drake	....	dialect coach
Nica Gajiu	....	assistant to producer
Constantine Gregory	....	dialogue coach
Marc Handler	....	voice director
Meggi Ibragimbekova	....	assistant production coordinator
Meggy Ibragimbekova	....	assistant production coordinator
Naryn Igilik	....	personal assistant to director
Bruce Larsen	....	mechanical horse
Zarina Mamyrculova	....	assistant production coordinator
Lina Merculova	....	production coordinator
Maroussia Morgan	....	talent manager
Kairzhan Orynbekov	....	translator
Paul St. Peter	....	dialect coach (as George C. Cole)
Galina Veryovkina	....	assistant to producer
Galina Veryovkina	....	script editor
Lisa Vick	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Ibrus
• Kazakhfilm Studios
• True Story Production
• Wild Bunch

Distributors

• Rézo Films (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• 3L Filmverleih (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The (2007) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Gateno Films (2006) (Peru) (all media)
• Imagem Filmes (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Weinstein Company, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• FB-FX (principal costume helmet)

Other Companies

• Ecou Films  
• Monkeyland Audio  re-recording and adr facilities
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• SIF309 Film & Music Productions  film score recording
• Sonic Magic  post-production facilities
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• StuntArt.ru  rigging stunts
• Sud Ovest Records  music production

Also Known As:

"Köshpendiler" - France (original title)
"Nomad" - USA (informal English title)
"Red Warrior" - Japan (English title) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | Kazakhstan

Language:

Kazakh | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | France:-12 (DVD) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:MA (2008) | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Kazakhstan

Company:

Ibrus

Trivia:

Due to financial and weather problems, the film shut down halfway through. It was bought by brothers Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein and completed in early 2005, but director Ivan Passer and cinematographer Ueli Steiger were replaced by Sergey Bodrov and Dan Laustsen, respectively.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the chief of the Jugars is riding a horse that had just been picked by Oraz, dust left by a vehicle can be seen in front of him, even though he is supposed to be ahead of all the riders.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2007) (TV)

A visually spectacular, but far from original epic

Nomad is no different from American epics. Had the spoken language been English instead of Kazakh, it would have been impossible to distinguish this film from movies like Gladiator, Braveheart or Troy. It's just the latest entry in an overused genre. Still, I enjoyed watching Nomad. It entertained me for two hours even if I knew where the story was headed to, and that's all I demanded from it.

Like so many other similar flicks, Nomad deals with a tyrant, the people he's been tormenting for years, and a "chosen one" who will eventually dethrone him. When he first hears of this, the cruel dictator orders that this child be found and immediately killed. Naturally, the attempt fails, and the boy is raised in a remote village by an old, wise father figure, a character clearly based on the Merlin/Gandalf/Obi-Wan Kenobi blueprint. As the years pass, our hero, named Mansur (Kuno Becker), becomes a skilled warrior, perfectly capable of leading his rebellious countrymen in battle against the evil monarch. While preparing for the conflict, Mansur also has to deal with his feelings for a girl and the effects said romance is having on his lifelong friendship with Erali (Jay Hernandez), a man willing to do anything for his country and, most importantly, his leader and best friend.

The themes explored in epics are generally love, loyalty and freedom, and Nomad covers all of them them in a competent but predictable way: anyone who's ever seen this kind of movie will have no trouble figuring out how the various subplots, not to mention the big picture in itself, are going to end. But while it isn't exactly fresh, Nomad is a respectable film, its main quality lying in the visuals: the battle scenes are as great and gorgeous as in a Ridley Scott film, and the same should be said of the numerous shots concerning the eye-popping landscapes. In fact, with so much beautiful imagery (although a bit more violent than the average Hollywood blockbuster), it's a bit weird not to find the Blade Runner director's name among the executive producers, which do however include Milos Forman (the man behind the fabulous Amadeus).

So, as usual, style prevails over content, but when it looks so good, why complain? Nomad is a piece of pure, simple, unadulterated fun; that's why I liked it, and the reason genre fans should embrace it as well.

7,5/10