Film Reviews

Eventually the party reaches the Russian-Mongolian border but Valka decides to stay in Russia, because, despite his imprisonment, he still sees Russia as his homeland, and Stalin as a hero.

The group carries on to Ulaanbaatar but soon become ominously aware of a great arch over the road to the city with images of Joseph Stalin and a red star, implying that Mongolia is now a Communist state, and they will not be safe there. Because of the situation in nearby China they decide that the closest safe place is India and so continue south, across the Gobi desert.

As they cross the desert, the party becomes increasingly dehydrated, but they soon discover a well. They stock up with as much water as they can carry and continue on, but a sandstorm strikes and they lose some of the water. As they cross the desert the water runs out and the group begins to grow weak with blisters and sunstroke. Irena repeatedly collapses and eventually dies.

The remaining five continue walking until Tomasz dies and Smith loses the will to live. That evening, while Zoran and Voss continue, Janusz stays behind with the apparently dying Smith. Smith tells Janusz that he cannot overcome the guilt of taking his son to Russia. Janusz explains that he is motivated by the desire to see his wife again so he can forgive her and she can thereby forgive herself, implying Smith should forgive himself too. Smith rejoins the group and the next day they find a small stream of water to save them from dehydration.

By now they are in sight of the Himalayas and whilst resting on a rock are found by a Sherpa who guides them to a nearby monastery. They regain their strength but are told by the monks that India cannot be safely reached until spring. Smith decides to continue to Lhasa where there is an American military mission that will enable him to return to the United States, telling the others they've "made it."

Despite the warning of unpredictable snow making the journey difficult, Janusz insists to continue the journey. Soon, they continue over the Himalayas until they reach the Indian border, where they are given a warm welcome by the locals.

The film ends with Janusz reminiscing about returning home to his wife. This is followed by a montage of the Communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe and its eventual overthrow. The final scene shows Janusz and his wife finally reunited in 1989.

Label: dehydrated, mongolia, ominously