Prisoner of the Mountains

The film received critical acclaim, winning a Crystal Globe at the 1996 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film^[2] and a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.


Bodrov suggested to The New York Times that the film played a role in initiating peace talks between Russia and its neighbors, as it was screened to President Yeltsin on a Sunday and discussions began the next day.

Plot[edit]

During the First Russian-Chechen War, young Ivan Zhilin is conscripted into military service and finds himself in Chechnya alongside battle-hardened Sergeant Sasha and another soldier. Their armored vehicle is attacked by Chechens, resulting in one casualty and Ivan and Sasha being taken hostage to a mountain village, where they are imprisoned in a stable by village chief Abdul Murat. Abdul seeks to exchange them for his son held by the Russians, as previous ransom attempts failed.


Initial exchange attempts fail due to Russian deception, prompting Abdul to instruct Ivan and Sasha to write letters to their mothers, urging negotiations for their release. Over the following ten days, Ivan and Sasha earn respect in the village by performing tasks and defusing landmines. Their relationship with their guard, Hasan, warms, as does Ivan's bond with Abdul's daughter, Dina, who secretly provides them with food.


Ivan's mother negotiates with Abdul for their release, successfully arranging an exchange, unbeknownst to Ivan and Sasha. They attempt escape, resulting in the death of Hasan and a shepherd. Sasha is subsequently executed, leaving Ivan alone in captivity. As preparations for the exchange progress, Abdul's son escapes and is killed, leading Abdul to plan Ivan's execution. Dina secretly sets Ivan free, but he refuses to flee to protect her.


Abdul shoots at Ivan but deliberately misses, letting him go. As Ivan walks away from the village, he sees a squadron of Russian military helicopters flying by, presumably to attack the village. He futilely waves and shouts at them, telling them to stop. The film ends with Ivan narrating: he returns home with his mother, haunted by the events and unable to forget those involved.