the fall of otrar (1991, in kazakh)

Central Asia, early 1200s. People in the city of Ürgenç debate how seriously to worry about Genghis Khan. (Ürgenç rules the Khwarezmian Empire (which includes Persia)). Meanwhile, the city of Otrar lies at the northeastern edge of the Khwarezmian empire and so people there know that they should worry a lot.

This film is beautifully shot. It might be an accident that the movie uses a variety of film stocks, but it seems to me that just makes it better. Each time the film stock changes, you're struck how gorgeous the new footage is.

Everything is awesome. Genghis Khan's scenes are awesome.

Aleksei German (the Russian director of such hits as "Khrustaliov, My Car!") wrote the movie.