"The Mahabharata" (1989) TV mini-series

Director:

Peter Brook

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (adaptation)
Peter Brook (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 February 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot Keywords:

Religion | Stage Adaptation | Epic | Mythological | Massacre

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Erika Alexander	...	Madri / Hidimbi
Maurice Bénichou	...	Kitchaka
Amba Bihler	...	Virata's daughter
Lou Bihler	...	Young Karna
Urs Bihler	...	Dushassana
Ryszard Cieslak	...	Dhritharashtra
Georges Corraface	...	Duryodhana
Jean-Paul Denizon	...	Nakula
Mamadou Dioumé	...	Bhima
Miriam Goldschmidt	...	Kunti
Hapsari Hardjito	...	Abhimanyu's wife
Nolan Hemmings	...	Abhimanyu
Ken Higelin	...	Deathless boy
Ciarán Hinds	...	Ashwattaman
Gisèle Hogard	...	1st princess

Also Known As:

Le mahâbhârata (France)

Runtime:

318 min | France:55 min (6 episodes) | USA:171 min (theatrical version)

Country:

Belgium | Australia | USA | Sweden | Portugal | Norway | Netherlands | Japan | Ireland | Iceland | Finland | Denmark | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Hungary:14 | Singapore:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Studios Joinville, Joinville-le-pont, Val-de-Marne, France

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Quotes:

Duryodhana: A man says: I have enough to eat and wear. I need nothing more! Shame! He says: I don't know anger! Shame! I am like a dried up stream, like a wooden elephant. All because my father was born blind, because one does not give a throne to a blind man.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#3.2)" (1990)

superb mythographic projection

Brooks has done an amazing job of distilling the monumental indian epic into less than a 6 hour film. In the process, a lot of good stuff had to left out, but what remains is pure gold.

The style is spare and theatrical, with fairly minimal sets. Rather than detracting from the sense of immediacy, however, the lack of background serves to throw the characters into bolder relief. And what characters! Arjuna, Yudhisthira, Draupadi, Bhima, Krishna - marvelous characters all. And the 'bad guys' are nearly as good - flawed, but complex and even somewhat sympathetic. The minor characters too are arresting - bhishma and drona especially.

This movie translates the power of myth to the screen better than any other by far. Maybe when LotR is complete that will change, but for now Mahabharata reigns supreme.