Peter Brook's The Mahabharata
by Peter Brook
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Actor: Amba Bihler, Erika Alexander, Lou Bihler, Maurice B?nichou, Urs BihlerDirector: Peter Brook
Writer: Peter Brook
Producer: Abigail Franklin
Producer: Christine Raspill?re
Producer: Edward Myerson
Writer: Jean-Claude Carri?re
Writer: Marie-H?l?ne Estienne
Writer: Vedavyas
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 318 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-11-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Image Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Peter Brook's The Mahabharata
DVD Review: The Interplay of Gods and Men
Summary: 4 Stars
Written in India roughly 2,000 years ago, the Mahabharata is one of the world's great religious texts. It also may be the most outlandish soap opera ever, replete with gods siring mortals, polygamy, compulsive gambling, unrequited love, and a family feud on an awesome scale.
At its heart, the epic poem of 100,000 verses tells the tale of two warring sets of royal cousins, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, who each seek to rule the kingdom. Around that rivalry is woven a wealth of philosophy, myth and history -- a virual encyclopedia of ancient Indian culture. Just one small part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita, the book that Hare Krishnas used to try to sell in airports around the world; it is a long discussion between the wise god Krishna and the soul-searching archer Arjuna (a Pandava), as the latter reluctantly prepares to enter into battle with his cousins.
This six-hour adaptation of the Mahabharata has been crafted by two great film talents: screenwriter Jean Claude Carriere ("The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie") and director Peter Brook ("Marat-Sade"). They emphasize the universality of the mythic tale, and set it on a dream-like stage whose timeless backdrops are fog and mist, rocky slopes and reed thickets, and candlelit rooms. The movie's superb cast is drawn from every continent and racial group, thus adding a rather transcendent touch, as well as eliminating the thorny problem of the Indian caste system with one stroke.
"The Mahabbarata" is both a compelling story and an enlightening spiritual journey, whether or not you've ever dipped a toe into the Ganges. It is not packed with filmic excitement, as it has the pacing and feel of a play (and indeed was adapted from Brook and Carriere's 1985 stage version), but it is full of marvelous acting, dialogue, music and cinematography. So sit back with some Darjeeling tea, and enjoy the interplay of gods and men.
DVD Review: Peter Brook's Mahabharata
Summary: 1 Stars
This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Not indicative of what the Mahabharat really is. The story was so choppy and left out major parts that it was impossible to follow. Not having all Indian actors made it difficult to watch as well. Don't waste your money. One star is much too high of a rating for this mess.DVD Review: Good short overview of Mahabharata for Western Viewers
Summary: 4 Stars
I have watched this in PBS several years ago and have watched it repeatedly. From one context this seems "juvenile" and with a novice international cast. From another context it is a good short rendering of Mahabharata (mainly) for the western viewers who have not heard/read/wathced the epic hundreds of times in various ways (from grandmothers/grandfathers/Indian TV/Movies). I enjoyed watching this Peter Brook's version and the International cast and I some how liked the Duryodhana and Karna's character as they were more bubbly and the acting seemed more proficient. I just want to mention the typical Indian rendition of mythical stories in "Amar Chitra Katha" cartoon books where essence of lot of Indian Mythical stories are published in much shorter versions and I used to read them in my childhood. I would like to compare Peter Brooke's version to Amar Chitra Khatha equivalent (roughly!). I would recommend this Video to any one who wants to get introduced to this epic in a "lite hearted" manner.DVD Review: Best adaptation of the Mahabharata
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best adaptation of the Mahabharata ever that i have seen. It is definitely something to own. DVD Review: Mahabharata
Summary: 5 Stars
Mahabharata, directed by Peter Brook, is a great movie. It is a must see for all who are interested in epic mythology and who would like to understand more about the religious philosophies and culture of India. As an Indian I have heard countless stories about Mahabharata and seen many Indian movies based on Mahabharata. The story is vast and often spawned many discussions on arguments on why things were what they were - the plot, chartecters, etc. I first saw the theatrical version of the Peter Brook version in 1989, and was amazed by the beauty and grandeur of the production and also was quite impressed how effectively the strory was told and enacted by an international cast of stage and screen actors. Mahabharata is a must collect item and worth watching once every year !!!
Description of Peter Brook's The Mahabharata
One of the great masterpieces of world literature comes to vivid life in an elaborate production from acclaimed theater and film innovator Peter Brook (Marat/Sade, Lord of the Flies). This collection of ancient Sanskrit stories (composed into the longest book ever written) comprises a series of enlightened fables at the heart of countless beliefs, legends, and teachings; indeed, its very title means "the great story of mankind." Brook and award-winning writer Jean-Claude Carriere worked for eight years to develop this epic concerning two sides of a royal family, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, whose struggle leads to a fascinating voyage of emotions, contradictions, and dreams, filled with subplots which are alternately comic and tragic but always gloriously entertaining.Famed Royal Shakespeare Company director Peter Brook helms this multinational production of India's greatest epic myth. A seemingly simple tale of two sets of semidivine brothers vying for the throne spirals out to include wider themes of fate, free will, and the problems of behaving dishonorably to preserve the greater good. The film, adapted from Brook's stage production, uses a presentational style, with the epic's narrator slipping in and out of the action and characters stopping to address the camera. The international cast and simple costuming add to the timeless, dreamlike feel of the story. The Mahabharata does an excellent job of reverently presenting a cherished myth without losing the passion and excitement of the story. The DVD edition includes "The Making of The Mahabharata," an interesting look at both the layers of meaning to be found in the story and the challenges in adapting it for a Western audience. --Ali Davis
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