Cast: Vittorio Mezzogiorno, Andrzej Seweryn, Georges Corraface, Mallika Sarabhai, Miriam Goldschmidt, Jeffrey Kissoon, Sotigui Kouyaté, Ciarán Hinds, Erika Alexander Review by Colin Dibben
This is an old story, compiled 1700 years ago. The central narrative is about the feud between two closely related regal families, but there are dozens of main characters – both human and divine – and many subplots, diversions, fables and legends. This creates a rich and bewildering narrative tapestry and gives the viewer a nice sense of ‘Crumbs! What next?
Stately pacing means the long journey is never overwhelming. The focus is on the actors rather than spectacle – this is a stage-to-screen adaptation after all, albeit on a large scale. You may find that a little goes a long way: but this means you can extend the viewing pleasure over a week or so.
The diverse, ensemble cast – almost no South Asian actors – are all captivating to watch as they move their way around the massive sets, built in a warehouse outside Paris. Oddly, Jean-Claude Carrière’s dialogue is delivered lightly in most cases, but the actors’ physical movements are slightly ponderous and ritualistic. That seems to fit the production style to a tee.
It is quite hard to pinpoint Brook’s signature moves as a director. His is obviously a profoundly thought-out approach and the good extras provide enlightenment on this.
The colours and lighting look fantastic in this new 4K restored version, as you might expect when the director of photography is William Lubtchansky, favourite of New Wave auteur Jacques Rivette. He specialises here (as in Rivette’s La Religieuse) in what one might call Baroque lighting: downlighting that brings intense shadows to rich, saturated colours.
The Mahabharata is probably not for those of a short attention span (I’m looking at you, young’uns!) or viewers who demand ‘stuff blows up’ in films. Although there is quite a lot of action here, it never overwhelms the narrative.
Special features in this 2-disc set include:
- My Father’s Legacy – Simon Brook on The Mahabharata (2026, 35 mins): the son of director Peter Brook recalls his unique memories of the production, the cultural positioning of the film and his father’s legacy
- Making the Mahabharata (1989, 55 mins): director Peter Brook, screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière and the international cast comment on the making of the film
- Brook by Brook (2002, 70 mins): an intimate portrait of the director by his son
- Pageant of the Sun-god (1934, 9 mins): a travelogue of the extravagant celebration of The Maharana of Udaipur
The first pressing includes an illustrated booklet including new essays by Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes of the Why Not Theatre and actor Georges Corraface, archive pieces by Jean-Claude Carrière and Peter Brook and extensive notes on the restoration by Simon Brook.
Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata is released on BFI Blu-ray, Apple TV and Amazon Prime on 10 August 2026.
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