Simon Brook discusses the challenges of reviving his father's groundbreaking film
Marat/Sade 1/X
By Naman Ramachandran
Nearly 35 years after its original debut at the Venice Film Festival, Peter Brooks’ epic adaptation of “The Mahabharata” returns to the Lido in a meticulously restored 8K version. The restoration, led by the late director’s son Simon, marks a new chapter for the groundbreaking 1989 production that brought the ancient Indian epic to audiences worldwide.
“The Mahabharata” holds a unique place in Peter Brook’s legendary career. Based on his nine-hour stage production, the film version clocked in at a still-substantial three hours. It featured an international cast performing in English and was shot in a Paris studio. The ambitious project aimed to distill the essence of the vast Hindu epic, exploring themes of war, ethics and power across generations.
