Ali & Nino

The story of the brief independence of Azerbaijan after World War I is told through the love story of Ali (Adam Bakri), a Russian-educated Muslim from a noble family in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Nino (María Valverde), an Orthodox Christian from Georgia and the daughter of a Russian Prince (Mandy Patinkin). Their marriage is put on hold when war is declared in 1914 and events split them up—Nino is kidnapped, and Ali goes into hiding—but they are reunited and Ali becomes a part of the new independent government. Their journey takes them from the modern Muslim city of Baku to the poor mountain villages of Azerbaijan to Turkey and Iran and back to Baku, which they must flee when the Soviet Union invades the oil-rich country. This is the first film version of the classic 1937 novel by the pseudonymous Kurban Said, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia (Amy) from an adaptation by Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) and shot on location. But the historical aspects and the portrait of the culture of Azerbaijan 100 years ago are more interesting than the human drama. And while Bakri and Valverde are attractive and likable performers, they never show the kind of epic passion needed to drive their dramatic journey. Still, this handsome film centered on a lesser-known moment in history should be considered a strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)