‘Ali and Nino’ Is a Visually Stunning Film With a Tepid Love Story

Sandra Miska

Period drama “Ali and Nino” tells the story of two young people from different backgrounds who struggle through World War I and its aftermath. Set primarily in the East Asian nation of Azerbaijan, two children of affluent families decide to marry. The film explores prejudices and struggles that exist to this day.

Ali Khan Shirvanshir (Adam Bakri), a Muslim, proposes marriage to Nino Kipiani (Maria Valverde), a Christian, and of course there are hesitation on both sides of the aisle. Nino’s mother (Connie Nielsen) fears the Muslim man will take multiple wives, despite his assurance to his betrothed that he won’t. A mutual friend, Malik (Riccardo Scamarcio), offers to intervene on Ali’s behalf, but attempts to kidnap Nino for himself. As a result, Ali’s father (Homayoun Ershadi) views the young woman as damaged goods. The couple elopes, but tragedy looms as the war breaks out.

“Ali and Nino” is a political film almost as much as a love story. Once Russia starts the war, Ali and his family are reluctant to fight for a tsar who never embraced their needs as a people. Ali and Nino enjoy only their new married a short time before the war reaches their city of Baku, and upends their lives. Nino, now pregnant, is sent away to Turkey to live in a harem with Muslim women under the supervision of a eunuch. But refuses to follow Turkish law regarding the covering of women amid the broader culture shock that a women faced (and face today) in a repressive Moslem society.

Even after the war draws to a close in Europe, the fighting continues in Azerbaijan, where the people fight for their freedom from the country that is about to be Soviet Unionized. Ali joins the cause for an independent Azerbaijan, risking not just his life and his love for Nino.

“Ali and Nino” is the proverbial feast for the eyes, with beautiful scenery, elaborate costumes, and two ridiculously attractive leads. Based on a book that was first published by an unknown author in 1937 and has since become the national novel of Azerbaijan, the film has most of the ingredients needed for a sweeping epic. However, the love story falls flat.

Nino especially comes off as naïve and immature more often than not. She is repeatedly left behind while Nino chooses duty and over his love. Perhaps this is a realistic portrait of a wartime relationship between two young people barely out of their parents’ homes against the backdrop of war. But it tells a story of a time and place that has been little explored in the West, and for that alone it’s worth seeing. It also gets points for having an encouraging message about standing up for what one believes, a message that resonates today more than ever.  

“Ali and Nino” opens Nov. 18 in select theaters and VOD.