Summary
The existence of cooperative agreements between film studios in communist countries gave rise from time to time to the obligatory creation of coproduced motion pictures filmed in exotic locations. For the adventure story Ve znamení Tyrkysové hory (Focusing on the Turquoise Mountain, 1977), politically reliable director Ivo Toman travelled to faraway Mongolia to make a film about a (fictional) joint expedition of local and Czechoslovak geologists. The expedition searches for copper ore deposits in remote mountainous regions. In the face of continued failure, Professor Pudil (Josef Langmiler) decides to draw inspiration from the local legend of the Turquoise Mountain. However, the idea that copper deposits are usually located where turquoise is found runs contrary to the opinion of Pudil’s colleague Mareš (Karel Hlušička). The doubter Mareš is eventually forced to admit defeat… The film is worth seeing mainly for its footage of beautiful Mongolian landscapes, recorded by seasoned camera operator Josef Illík.
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