Peter Brook's The Mahabharata
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 Mahabharatadoes an excellent job of reverently presenting a cherished myth without losing the passion and excitement of the story. The DVD edition includes "The Making ofThe 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