Kazakh Khans
Aktau, Kazakhstan
May 31, 2009
Aktau, Kazakhstan
May 31, 2009
On my way back from the supermarket I spotted these apartment blocks livened up with supersized portraits of who I presume are famous Kazakhs. Wikipedia helped me identify the chap to the left as Ablai Khan a legendary (naturally) Kazakh warrior leader from the 18th century. I also discovered they made a movie about him called Nomad produced by Milos Forman. It was the most expensive Kazakh film ever made and ranks in the Top 20 most expensive non-American films ever made. Apparently they followed the standard Hollywood formula these days — spectacular visuals, moving (Golden Globe winning) score and rubbish script. It flopped in the US but I’m assuming it was a big hit in Aktau.
