"Mongol" traces the formative years of legendary warrior Genghis Khan. Spanning his life from age 9 in 1172 through 1206, when the feuding nomadic clans united under his leadership, this Central Asia–set historical epic from Russian helmer Sergei Bodrov ("Nomad") boasts breathtaking landscapes, dazzling cinematography, bloody battles and unique traditions. Shot on locations in Kazakhstan and the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia, "Mongol" captures the nomadic lifestyle of the 12th century and the harsh climate and varying terrain of the Mongolian steppe, a place where a man‘s not a man without a horse. It also introduces a strong, resourceful female character: Borte, first wife and lifelong adviser to the man born as Temudgin. Opening in 1192, during one of many periods of captivity Temudgin suffered, the story flashes back 20 years to show him as a lad (Odnyam Odsuren) with his father Esugei (Ba Sen), a tribal leader. On the way to choose a bride from the fierce Merkit clan, the boy finds his heart captured by spirited Borte (Bayartsetseg Erdenabat), and he decides to choose her instead.