Overview: Brook. Mahabharata.

Title:  The Mahabharata
Director: Peter Brook
Scriptwriters:  Jean-Claude Carriere and Peter Brook
Year: 1989

Comments: This is an amazing film adaptation of the Mahabharata, based on a theatrical version. It is available at YouTube and also for DVD checkout from Bizzell. The cast is international — very international! You can find out more about the director here: Peter Brook. You can also find out more about the scriptwriter: Jean-Claude Carriere. The script is also available if you want to read the script after watching the film.

Free Online. You can watch this film at YouTube.

Bizzell. For higher quality video, you can check out a DVD from Bizzell Library. BL 1138.25 .B76 1989 (click to see if it is checked out or not).

Length: three weeks. The film is about 5 and a half hours long, and I've divided the film into six parts: A - B (one week of viewing) and C - D (another week), and then E - F (third week of viewing).

Reading Guides: There is a detailed guide for Parts A, B and C (see below); after you get used to the film's style, you should be able to view Parts D-E-F without a guide.

Part A: 53 minutes.
start at the beginning of "Mahabharata 1"
   1. The Beginnings
   2. Youth and Marriage
stop at the 53 minute mark (the dice game begins)

Part B: 45 minutes
start at the 53 minute mark (the dice game begins)
   3. The Gambling Match
stop at the 1 hour 38 minute mark (Amba appears)

Part C: 52 minutes
start at the 1 hour 38 minute mark (Amba appears).
   4. Exile in the Forest
   5. The Search for Arms
stop at the 2 hour 30 minute mark (arriving at Virata's court)

Part D: one hour
start at the 2 hour 30 minute mark (arriving at Virata's court)
stop at the end of "Mahabharata 1"

Part E: 54 minutes.
start at the beginning of "Mahabharata 2"
stop at the 54 minute mark (Arjuna runs from Drona)

Part F: 56 minutes.
start at the 54 minute mark (the plot to kill Drona)
stop at the end of "Mahabharata 2"

Mahabharata 1: Contains Parts A, B, C, and D.

Mahabharata 2: Contains Parts E and F.