Movies and Theology--Mongol

Mongol is an epic film about Genghis Khan's rise to power. It's full of magic realism (or supernatural elements), beautiful landscapes, and subtlety. The subtlety of the acting, the musical score, and the battle scenes not only gave a beauty to the story, but allowed me to approach the film openly (both emotionally and intellectually) knowing I was not being manipulated.

The music is breathtaking. It follows the landscape of Mongol--the desert, the mountains, the great expanses. 

Filmmaker Sergei Bordov gave a multifaceted portrait of Genghis Khan, a man hunted as a child and enslaved as an adult. This movie depicts a man whose leadership arose not from selfish ambition but to unite the Mongolians because they had become morally corrupt. Genghis Khan is visionary, driven, and even merciful in this movie. He fights hard (and sometimes harshly) for a Mongolia that honors their leadership and protects rather than harms women and children, and he conquers easily.

Borste, Temudgin's wife, is a strong woman who does not fail her husband, even when she's not expected to wait for him. In fact, without her advice, strength, and support, Temudgin would not have become Genghis Khan. She's willing to sacrifice herself, not in a mousy submission, but as a true partner, for a greater vision and love.  

What interests me most about this movie is the faith element. This is where the magic realism comes in. The movie makes it clear that Temudgin (Genghis Khan) had been chosen by God, and because of this, God supernaturally saved him when Temudgin could not have saved himself. The film makes no attempt at a logical explanation. In fact, it emphasizes the supernatural of the legend, not with fireworks, but with simple, straightforward storytelling. Genghis Khan's rise to power is directly connected with his faith. The movie presents both the mystery of this faith as well as the conundrum. Once, while Temudgin was in prison (becoming famous for his perserverence), a Buddhist priest visited him and asked what he could do for him so that when Temudgin became powerful, he'd remember the Buddhists and not destroy their sanctuary. Temudgin asked him to kill the guard. The Buddhist refused. His faith would not allow him to do that, he said. Temudgin responded, "Mine does." Temudgin's faith allows him to kill and wage war in order to bring unity and law (in order to protect others, in other words). This is an age-old question of faith, one that Christians have struggled with. (The Buddhist did serve Temudgin in another way, showing that though he didn't agree with Temudgin's ways, he agreed with his vision.)

God is presented as someone to be feared. He's represented by a wolf on the sacred mountain. The Mongols are afraid of this all-powerful God. His wrath is in the lightening and thunder, and they cower in storms. Genghis does not. When another leader asked him about this, Genghis answered that there was no where to hide. His recognition of sovereignty of God and his dependence on him allowed him to face God's wrath without fear. This picture does not belittle God's power (or even his wrath), but shows how faith recognizes the nature of God, the limitations of man, and the dependence of man on God. It shows how that dependence takes away fear.  

Mongol is the first of a trilogy. I look forward to seeing the next movie.