Why Genghis Khan?
Bodrov: Russia was one of the many countries he conquered, and our schoolbooks have always portrayed him as a monster. But 10 years ago, I happened upon a book that gave a more balanced account of his life. It got me interested, and the more I learned, the more human he seemed to me. Human in what way? As a child he was orphaned and sold into slavery. His wife, whom he adored, was kidnapped. When he rescued her, she was pregnant by her kidnapper, but he adopted the child as his heir. He was a broadminded and visionary man in many ways, and a great leader. Did you look at any of the Hollywood movies made about him? Of course. But they were all ludicrous. … Totally inaccurate. … Filmed in America and Europe with Western actors made to look Asiatic. John Wayne as Genghis Khan. Can you imagine? Yet you cast a Japanese actor, Tadanobu Asano, to play the part. Did this cause any controversy? I would have been happy to cast a Mongolian actor, but I simply couldn’t find a suitable one. I l
