User reviews

I am beyond impressed. There comes a movie from time to time and you say: Wow! This is one of them! I have watched Kurmanjan Datka several times now and every time I was totally riveted to the screen. This movie is a sweeping epic, wonderfully crafted. Great Cast. A master Director - through and through. Poetic, breathtaking, lyrical, exciting, touching.... and you discover history of a magical Country that is to me synonymous with the Silk Road! I hope and pray that Kurmanjan Datka finds it's way to as many Theaters around the World as it deserves. Bravo Mr. Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, Farkhad Bekmanbetov and the rest of the Cast & Crew - thank you for the Dream!

Loved the film, it is versatile, deep, beautiful. Lovely acting and gorgeous landscapes. The movie shows the beauty of Kyrgyz land and the beauty of its nation. It is incredible what they have done in such a limited budget .The film is about love to your motherland, about love to each other , about unity , about dignity and courage , about sacrifice and choice , about role of woman in a history . Cried a lot ,it touches the deepest part of your heart, it makes you feel responsible and conscious .Special thanks to the composers, the music is gorgeous, it absolutely matches all the scenes and gives additional depth to the meaning. Kurmanjan Datka -is a great woman , who saves her nation from total destruction and made a great contribution to the development of her country.

Today I have finally watched "Kurmanjan Datka". I accompanied my grandma to the cinema, who wanted to watch the movie that was on everyone's lips. I must confess - I had been skeptical about it, despite the numerous admiring reviews of my friends and buddies. To my great embarrassment, I doubted if we had good directors and actors in the country. I am sorry for this. Unexpectedly I loved the film. The idea, plot, actors, acting, directing, scenery - everything was wonderful. I would like to thank the director, actors and producers for such a pleasure! The views of our mountains are marvelous! And I must note that all actors were very pleasant and genuine, I didn't expect that we have so many talented actors in Kyrgyzstan! Most of all I liked symbols in the film and attention to details - peculiar, national, authentic. Great job! That's the stuff!

With stunning applicability today, this film portrays a freedom- loving people and their amazing leader struggling nobly to survive Russian imperialism in the late 1800s. But that is not the primary reason for American audiences to appreciate this movie. Skillfully produced entirely in Kyrgyzstan by Kyrgyz filmmakers, it is a powerful, fascinating, gorgeous, and inspiring historical epic about an extraordinary woman—Kurmanjan Datka, Queen of the Mountains—who led the nomadic Kyrgyz people for decades with remarkable wisdom, character, and strength in the midst of great national and personal challenges. The story offers a deeply cultural and transcendently moving experience to every viewer of any nationality. As a leader, Kurmanjan Datka succeeded in ways unmatched by other Kyrgyz rulers, yet the problematic influences and results of her era in history leave the Kyrgyz people still seeking consistent foundational principles for peace, stability, unity, prosperity, and true freedom. This film brilliantly highlights both the leadership qualities and the unresolved questions that remain important to Kyrgyz people, and instructive to Americans, even today.

Wow!!!

I'm totally impressed! Kurmanjan Datka will be one of my favorite movie. I waited for a long time to watch this film and it was worth it. Beautiful nature and wonderful people. Absolutely sweeping epic. It's exciting, proud,touching, poetic, lyrical and many many more. I can't stop explore my feelings. Bravo Sadyk Sher-Niaz Myrza. I'm so proud of you! I thank all of who made this epic. People, open for yourself a new journey for these beautiful mountains. No matter where I am, my heart is always in these mountains.This movie is a way for my children and grandchildren to learn about their beautiful country. Thank you so much.

I think this is the best film ever made in Kyrgyzstan. I was fortunate enough to get an invitation for the premier. Excellent work !!! I was the victim of the Stand-Ovation after the movie. This movie inspires, I was crying and I wasn't shy. Great cast of artists and the whole team, amazing storyline and plot, special thanks to the sound-effects. This movie is about love, pride, and fight for independence. It takes your breath from the first scene, and makes you feel like in a different world. I would also like to show my admiration to the director of this movie, who truly made a masterpiece. Considering a very low budget for the movie, where for the same budget you could only provide sandwiches in the Hollywood's movie production, I have to say the director made a miracle. I call it a Miracle in the movie industry nowadays.

It's a great historical film able to shake one emotionally. It can take you back in the times giving a neat introduction to Kyrgyz culture, history and old traditions. With this film you can imagine daily lives of Central Asian people in the past. It also presents historical events, dynamics of internal relations between Kyrgyz people before they had to join Russian empire. Actors played strongly non- verbally. Especially, it is strong when Kurmanjan decides not to save her son's life from death penalty for the sake of the whole nation. She communicates this to her son just by looking at him. Her son reads this in his mother's eyes and expresses different emotions: first shows the fear of death, and then sadness which then transforms to obedience and then strength before the death. This story has a value for new generations. A woman rises as a leader in a men-dominated place and time and has been able to unite her people and prevent war.

I was lucky to be on the premier of this movie in LA. Absolutely worth to be nominated for Best foreign movie for upcoming 87's Oscar. Director of Kurmandjan Datka is a man with vision, there is no doubt that this picture will get nominated and be awarded for best foreign movie in 2015. This movie is based on real story that happened centuries ago in Kyrgyzstan, country of nomad people that got settled in Central Asia. This movie helps to educate young generation of Kyrgyz people to get familiar with their history. Director, Sher-Niyaz contributed a lot to the country of Kyrgyz people where he developed a great platform in movie- making business, as it has grown tremendously in the past 5 years and brought up enormous attention of mass media from all over the world. The biggest movie project that ever occurred in history of Kyrgyzstan, people from all over the world bless this movie, critics are foreseeing good results and director is working really hard to push this movie into Oscar.

As the title suggests Mother of Kyrgyzstan, that's who Kurmanjan Datka exactly is. She sacrificed the life of her son for the freedom of our nation and our people. Without a doubt this is the best historic movie from Kyrgyzstan. The cast and the crew were perfect for this movie, every one of them did an outstanding job at their role. The costume design was historically accurate and most of all the scene, the mountains, the horses (pure Kyrgyz horses) all the props left me speechless. Overall this movie most definitely deserves an Oscar and I'm confident that it will get an Oscar. Even if it doesn't get an Oscar, it will remain one of the best movies of all time from Kyrgyzstan.

... .Kyrgyz women - More host camels, horses, the owner of the boz ui "yurta" more than the Kyrgyz - everything. Kyrgyz women, not kyrgyz male will construct Kirghiz home (boz ui) "yurta" on arrival nomads lovely their mountain pasture. Kyrgyz women will feel, and understand horses, camels and cattle. Kyrgyz women will graze them, take care, and feed, just like own child and husband. Maybe by this constant rough work among the harsh nature of this invariable courageous struggle with the needs and burdens of life, Kyrgyz girl Kyrgyz woman since childhood grew so tall, strong, brave and hardy, so similar to the male expression of his face and shape their bones, so independent and strong character. In rare civilized peoples woman enjoys such great value and respect enjoyed by them among the Kirghiz wife and mother ... .. " (from history). I believe that this movie -Kurmanjan Datka-Queen of the Mountains is worthy of receiving Oscar!!!

This was a wonderful movie. I went to see it by myself and then I took my wife two nights later and enjoyed it just as much on the second viewing. On the surface, it's a straightforward story about the history and experience of the native people of Krygastan. I'd never heard of this country before and the film takes us into this breathtaking world through the eyes of its people. It's obvious that the director is well versed in the traditional craft of filmmaking and he takes it to a whole new level. He uses the amazing scenery as an artist uses a canvas through which the characters move. But the landscape is not merely a backdrop it is part of these people. And this is the story of all native peoples who have had to persevere against great odds. It's refreshing to see a film that doesn't rely on special effects and let's the dialogue and peoples faces tell the story. This is traditional filmmaking at its best.

I have watched this movie five times: the first one was with my dear sister, the second time was with my father, the third was with my mom, the fourth was with my grandma and the last one was with a very dear person in my life. Every time I was feeling the deepest emotions of gratitude towards all mothers.

There is a very good acting in the movie - we can see actors playing their roles from their hearts, it is obvious that they felt responsibility not just before the director Mr. Sadyk Sher-Niyaz but before all the Kyrgyz people of the past, present and future and especially before the Spirit of Kurmanjan Datka, Mother of Kyrgyz People, our BraveHeart.

Every person knows that mother's heart is sacred. It never can do harm to mother's child. But only few people know what it means in life. What does it mean to do no harm to your child? And "Kurmanjan Datka" answers this question in a very emotional and dramatic way. The movie also concerns many other heart touching questions and answers, which makes the movie glorious, beautiful to look at.

From the technical point of view "Kurmanjan Datka" is also very beautiful: breathtaking slow motion pictures, mountain landscape of Kyrgyzstan, traditional costumes, great battles. And finally I was so happy to hear komuz music playing behind the scenes.

My hat goes off to Mr. Sadyk Sher-Niyaz. I hope he makes a few more movies like this one.

Its the best movie i have watched by local film makers. I truly believe that this movie is for universal viewers. Many Western people say that Central Asian people have bad attitude towards women. But this movie shows the other case giving the message that women are precious creates and our history has positive incidents. The quality of work by film making team is at the same level as many Hollywood movies though they budged many times less than others. Moreover, this movie went on cinemas when we face the same danger by imperialism around. This movie gives some good message for us to think properly about our life and not to make mistakes of the past. Thanks!

I have watched this movie twice. I burst into tears twice! The events and facts depicted in the movie Kurmanjan Datka, Queen of the Mountains, are historically accurate. This is an amazing movie. It's not just a masterpiece of the Kyrgyz cinema, but rather an achievement of contemporary cinematography at large.

One can watch this movie over and over again acquiring the deeper essence of the story each time. The movie Kurmanjan Datka is not just a creation of the producer and the casting crew, it's a creation of the whole nation. Each and every individual working on this movie has invested their souls and hearts into it. That's why the movie Kurmanjan Datka, Queen of the Mountains is a true masterpiece! Furthermore, this movie is only the first part of a trilogy. There is more to come. Please open your hearts to this bewildering story about the history of Central Asia, the history of the Kyrgyz people, and the biography of an amazing woman Kurmanjan Datka. Thank you!

Since my childhood my father has always told me interesting and true stories about our "Kyrgyz" nationality, and especially about my ancestors Alymbek Datka and his wife Kurmanjan Datka who really made a contribution in saving lives of people in Alai(south part of Kyrgyz Republic) I m really thankful for this film, no regrets that I went n watch it.It was not easy for me to watch it, difficult moments in their life:( very sad moments.this a true story. The actors played great! The beautiful nature which is shown in the film is the reality of our country. You did a great job!!! I am really proud of my grandfather and grandmother, who really thought about the future of our nation and made everything possible to protect them. I wish this is the beginning of success of Kyrgyz cinema.

Overall, it was an absolute positive experience. Much appreciated and enjoyed the full-hearted performances of Nazira Mambetova, Aziz Muradillayev, Mirlan Abdulayev and Elina Abai Kyzy. All of them, I think, were able to truly live through their characters and tell their unique stories adeptly.

The production team's hard work and dedication to reflect the cultural specifics and the feeling of that era are visible in every scene and every detail. Be it in costumes, food or traditions, the key features have been depicted carefully.

The main messages which the movie intends to deliver to its viewers, in my opinion, have been framed sensibly and presented skillfully. Many thanks to the crew/everyone who worked on the KD!

People were waiting for this movie from the very beginning of the filming process. And I can say with confidence that it did not disappoint my expectations personally. I know a lot of people who have been conquered by this movie. Many people have discussed about the result and some were afraid that history can be distorted. But all the moments and events were mentioned in accordance with the history, and there were shown some very interesting episodes from the life of Kurmanjan Datka about which we hadn't the opportunity to read in the history books. Excellent work of the film director, the cast, the camera director and the rest of the crew. I love this movie! I love the history and culture of my Motherland! And I'm proud that I'm Kyrgyz!

For me, a great movie always starts with a great story, preferably true - Then add epic scale, preferably period, then add exotic locations, with flawless cinematography, then add deep acting with great directing, and there you have it, that is why I loved this film. I was taken to a time and place I didn't know and through the directing and acting, I was able to feel what it was like to live there in the 1800's – the struggle, the unending sacrifice, the love, the harsh conditions, and the values earned from living in in those times and in that rugged beauty, Such films give me so much more appreciation for all those blessings that I normally take for granted and give me hope for a better world. A priceless experience - thank you Mr.Sadyk Sher-Nyaz. I look forward to the next chapter.

Based on a true history. A Woman becomes a general which is not traditional for that region. It shows that how nomad Kyrgyz people lost their independence. Costumes are really good and nature is so fascinating.

I cried while i'm watching, it was so hard to to see how we lost, how we forced to be part of Tsardom of Russia. It's a similar history like "The Last Samurai" or "The Last of the Mohicans". How the last nomad people became part of empire. General Kurmanjan saved the nation with sacrificing her own son. This is a great story. Every Kyrgyz child needs to know what happened in past.

When i watched this film for the first time I was frozen. I didn't expect such a great film. It was amazing. Everything was wonderful. I went there with my friends and they were justified by this film too. Actors, views, and historical moments were like real. That is what everybody wants from films. I think that everybody will be pleasured by this film. Finally, main of all, history here wasn't changed like in other films. That is what I liked in this film too. If you watched this film you would say that i am true. Thank you actors, director and producers. This is really good job. I want you to watch this film right now and rate it here of course. But rate it truly.