Ali and Nino (film)

Plot

During the Russian Empire, Ali and Nino fall in love. Ali is a Muslim from Azerbaijan and Nino is an Orthodox Christian from Georgia. Ali's best friend, Malik, agrees to help bring the aristocratic parents to accept a marriage. Ali lives in the oil rich city of Baku in the Shirvanshir Palace. Nino lives with her wealthy family in Tbilisi. World War I breaks out in Europe.

Malik and Nino go to the opera with Ali and Nino to secretly meet afterwards. Armenian Malik has also fallen in love with Nino and kidnaps her planning his own marriage to her. Prince Ali confronts and kills Malik with a dagger. Ali is injured during the fight and escapes to Dagestan to heal and hide out from Malik's powerful Nachararyan family. The Russian Revolution deposes Nicholas II of Russia.

Tamar is afraid no one will ever marry her daughter Nino and plans to send her to Moscow. Others have their own plans. Ever loyal Mustafa reunites Nino and Ali in the mountains. After a night of lovemaking and with Nino's virginity gone, Ali yells out to call a Mullah. Mustafa assures the couple no priest is necessary for he can perform the marriage ceremony. Despite aristocratic childhoods, simple country life suits the newlyweds and they find true happiness. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic wins its own independence.

Ali returns to Baku and gets appointed Deputy Foreign Minister. He begins to raise his young family in a free homeland. The young country signs friendship treaties with its neighbors but they fear the Bolsheviks in Russia. Learning that the Russians have amassed 30,000 troops on the border, the Azerbaijan government flees by train. As Nino and their daughter head toward Paris, Ali jumps off the train and blows up the bridge. Nino is safe but Ali dies defending his country.

Cast