The Russian army sends an explorer on an expedition to the snowy Siberian wilderness where he makes friends with a seasoned local hunter.
A Russian army explorer who is rescued in Siberia by a rugged Asian hunter renews his friendship with the woodsman years later when he returns as the head of a larger expedition. The hunter finds that all of his nature lore is of no help when he accompanies the explorer back to civilization.—Keith Loh <[email protected]>
1902. A group of Russian soldiers, led by Captain Vladimir Arseniev, are on assignment to survey the harsh wilderness of the Ussuri region of East Siberia. On their travels, they meet Dersu Uzala, a nomadic Goldi all alone in the world since smallpox took the lives of his wife and children, he who lives solely by hunting, both for food and what he can sell. From his knowledge of the land through which they must travel, Arseniev hires Dersu to be their guide. While Dersu's ways are seemingly simple to many of the soldiers, he and Arseniev form an emotional bond, for Arseniev because of Dersu's kindness not only toward him and the others, but his deep spirituality and wisdom about the life he leads. The story of their friendship is told, one that cannot be fully bridged due to the two very different worlds in which they generally inhabit.—Huggo
In 1902 a Russian army officer and his squad are tasked with exploring and mapping a remote part of Siberia. On their travels they meet a local hunter, Dersu Uzala, an old man determined to live his life in isolation. At their request he becomes their guide and over time a friendship forms between the officer and Dersu.—grantss
Dersu Uzala is named after the character played by Maxim Munzuk who has lived in the Mongolian/ Siberian countryside since birth. When he wanders into a Russian exploration party led by Capt. Vladimir Arseniev (Yuri Solomin) the captain hires the curious person as a guide. The old Dersu Uzala tells the foreigners stories about the land proving to them that he can out-hunt and out-shoot the best of them, and managing to save the life of the captain during one snow storm. The soldiers develop a deep respect and affection for Dersu and Capt. Arseniev brings the man into his home in the city to live with him and his wife and son bringing to the family an exposure to stories and a way of living that they could not gain from anywhere else in their city life. The domesticated lifestyle doesn't suit Dersu whose daily activities clash with the local constabulary. Dersu decides to go back to the untamed land and Arseniev gives him his best rifle to take with him. Eventaully Arseniev seeks out his old comrade but discovers that fate has intervened.
