Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Prisoner of the Mountains

R Released Jan 31, 1996 1h 38m Drama List
88% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
On patrol in the Caucasus mountains, Russian soldiers Vanya (Sergei Bodrov Jr.) and Sacha (Oleg Menshikov) become the prisoners of a Chechen village. Tribal leader Abdul-Murat (Jemal Sikharulidze) is willing to release the pair unharmed in exchange for his son, who is a prisoner in the custody of the Russians. After writing to their mothers with Abdul-Murat's terms, the duo are powerless to do anything but wait for an answer while getting used to life in the village.

Critics Reviews

View All (25) Critics Reviews
Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune The mountain-top locations are stunning; it's like a visit to the moon. And the story has all of the cynicism of war itself. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 16, 2017 Full Review Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Rated: B+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Russell Smith Austin Chronicle Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 2, 2002 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 2/5 Oct 8, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 4/5 Jun 11, 2005 Full Review Jim Shelby Palo Alto Weekly Rated: 0/4 Nov 6, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (70) audience reviews
Dave S In Prisoner of the Mountains, two Russian soldiers are captured and held captive in a remote mountaintop village after an attack by Chechen rebels. The premise is simple, but what makes the story of interest is how the prisoners adapt to life in captivity and begin to relate to their captors, who plan on killing them if they are unsuccessful in their attempt at a prisoner exchange. Despite the fact that the film seems flawed at times (there are some very disjointed scenes and a handful of scenes that feel unnecessary), it is worth watching for some fine acting, sound cinematography, and a fascinating locale. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/17/23 Full Review razvan p http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13poef_prisoner-of-the-mountains-1996-pt-1_creation Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member As an anti-war film, it certainly delivers its message powerfully. But never have we seen the First Chechen War from the Russian perspective as portrayed in this movie. Full review at filmbroadcaster.weebly.com Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member A drama with an funny undertone, especially the first part. The story is all right - two Russians get captured by muslim rebels in the Caucasus. We get a bond between people of different countries and this is what the film really is about if you ask me. Cool nature, interesting cultures and an OK war film setting. Actually it's all right on most features. You won't get bored and there seem to be a message here. Good anti-war flick in a quite creative way. Not much wrong with this film, but nothing extraordinary either 7 out of 10 wooden birds. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member I liked this movie, although it is not one I would watch over and over again. So many things went wrong, if and only if ... things would have turned out better. Loved the cast. So sad that the actor Sergei Bodrov, Jr. died in real life, he was such a good actor in this and in the other movies I saw him in. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a total number of former soviet republic was granted their independents, but there where also those republic that didn't, like Chechnya. Which resulted in multiple wars between Chechen nationalist and the Russians. And the situation has just escalated, and the hatred is still passionet, because it's been there for over five hundred years. Sergey Bodrov's Prisoner of the Mountains is the story about two Russian soldiers, Sasha and Vanya who's been captured by a Chechen militia, and is kept in a Chechen village as prisoners as ransom for one of the leaders son who's captured by the Russians. While the two Russians tries to find a way to escape, they also seems to find a nice tone with the villagers, and it also seems like the leaders daughter have grown found of Vanya, something that might cause great consequences. Prisoner of the Mountain is a great film about a bloodthirsty conflict, where reconciliation seems impossible, and where a small drop of empathy can get big consequences. A battle where no sign of weakness is allowed. And not to give away the ending, it is truly one of the most ironic endings ever. But what is also great about this film is also the insight of the Chechen culture, and they are portrayed as human being and theirs motives are none of other than freedom. It is indeed a powerful which shows us the everyday live of every Chechen and their struggle with the Russian repression. Thumbs up. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Prisoner of the Mountains

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis On patrol in the Caucasus mountains, Russian soldiers Vanya (Sergei Bodrov Jr.) and Sacha (Oleg Menshikov) become the prisoners of a Chechen village. Tribal leader Abdul-Murat (Jemal Sikharulidze) is willing to release the pair unharmed in exchange for his son, who is a prisoner in the custody of the Russians. After writing to their mothers with Abdul-Murat's terms, the duo are powerless to do anything but wait for an answer while getting used to life in the village.
Director
Sergey Bodrov
Producer
Sergey Bodrov, Boris Giller
Screenwriter
Arif Aliyev, Sergey Bodrov, Boris Giller, Leo Tolstoy
Distributor
Orion Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Russian
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 31, 1996, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 1, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA)
$739.6K
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Dolby