(1989, France, UK, USA, 173')
Peter Brook first brought the Indian epic poem Mahābhārata to the stage and later to the big screen. The original cinematic adaptation was nine hours long, which was eventually reduced to six and then to three hours to facilitate its theatrical release and DVD format. The project also involved contributions from French directors Jean-Claude Carrière and Marie-Hélène Estienne.
Peter Brook (1925-2022) is renowned as one of the most prominent theatre and film directors of the 20th century, particularly for his interpretations of Shakespeare’s plays. His notable works include Love’s Labour’s Lost (1946), King Lear (1962), The Tempest (1968), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1970). In 1985, after eight years of work, Peter Brook staged the monumental Mahābhārata. The cinematic adaptation of this grand work has now been restored to its full glory by Brook Productions.
