Mongol

My parents are both very interested in history. They read a lot of books about historical figures, and historical dramas are their favorite films. But this time of year, their activities usually include, gardening, travel, boating and a busy party schedule. A few months ago, my mother had to have hip surgery, then a few weeks ago, my father suffered a heart attack. Their physical recovery (which is going well) is frustrating for this active pair. Family and friends have been trying to visit, and keep them supplied with books, DVDs and puzzles so they don't go nuts, and do stuff they shouldn't. When Mongol hit our local art house, I figured I had found a film my parents would enjoy (I'm not sure they understand why I spend so much time in movie theaters). The story is about the rise to power of Genghis Khan. Little did I know, they both had a strong working knowledge of the life of the Mongolian king. The Academy Award nominated film was a treat for them (me too). My dad also has a hearing problem, so the subtitles were a bonus. In the opening scenes of the film, my father leaned over to me and said, "it's just like they described it in my books!" The film is beautifully shot. The film is also an interesting character study. Not only did we all enjoy the movie, but my parent's knowledge of that period in history made for lively dinner conversation. It might not have been a day on the boat, but I was happy to find a low key way to while away a Sunday afternoon that they seemed to enjoy. See, movies can be therapeutic!