As a lifelong admirer of Peter Brook’s work, witnessing the meticulous restoration of “The Mahabharata” is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The sheer magnitude of this project, spanning decades and continents, mirrors the grandeur of the epic itself. It’s as if Brook has woven his magic once more, breathing new life into an age-old tale that continues to resonate profoundly.
35 years after its initial premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Peter Brook’s grand film interpretation of “The Mahabharata” is making a comeback on the Lido, presented in an immaculately refurbished 8K format. This restoration, led by Simon (Peter Brook’s son), signifies a fresh phase for the pioneering 1989 production, which introduced the ancient Indian epic to viewers worldwide
In Peter Brook’s distinguished body of work, “The Mahabharata” stands out as a significant piece. Adapted from his nine-hour stage play, the movie adaptation lasted approximately three hours. It showcased a diverse cast acting in English and was filmed in a Paris studio. This grand undertaking aimed to encapsulate the core ideas of this extensive Hindu saga, delving into topics such as warfare, morality, and power spanning multiple generations
Originally, Brook aimed to create a six-hour film, but it was deemed too expensive to finance. Instead, they decided to simultaneously produce a three-hour cinema version and a six-hour TV series version. For the movie adaptation, Brook worked with his long-term collaborator Jean-Claude Carrière and Marie-Hélène Estienne on the script. The diverse cast, comprising 16 nationalities, featured Georges Corraface, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, Bruce Myers, and Mallika Sarabhai in significant roles
Back in 1989, my movie garnered widespread critical acclaim upon its release, earning a prolonged standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Over the ensuing years, it gradually slipped out of circulation. Tragically, the original 35mm prints seem to have vanished into thin air, leaving behind only an outdated TV transfer as a remnant of its former glory
As a film enthusiast with a passion for the epic tales of yore, I’ve been intertwined with “The Mahabharata” since my teenage years. I joined my father on his pioneering research journeys to India, capturing moments through my lens during those early excursions. The flame of recreating this film never dimmed, and so, I set out on a personal quest to unearth and revive the original materials
Brook shared, “It took a lot of my time,” he told EbMaster. “I’m not a legal expert, I’m a filmmaker, so it was quite enlightening for me.” The procedure entailed maneuvering through a labyrinth of contracts, letters, and appendices, some of which were designed to meet the bond requirements for completion but clashed with French law during the film’s production
Finding and obtaining the original resources proved to be yet another hurdle. As it turned out, the producer hadn’t settled his lab fees, and the lab had unfortunately gone out of business. This predicament necessitated further talks to secure the film components
The amount of content was overwhelming, with approximately 2,713 rolls of 35mm film, magnetic tapes, and additional sound reels stored in various locations. According to Brook, this process was both time-consuming and intricate due to the lack of an inventory. In total, 3,451 reels of negative and audio components spread across different labs were gathered. Brook states that about 95% of the film could be traced back to its original camera negative
The technical procedure posed an equal degree of difficulty. Instead of going with the traditional approach, Brook decided to employ an 8K scan and restoration – a novelty for European heritage films. As he puts it, “What we’re witnessing is more than what the cinematographer at that time could see. We are seeing precisely what was in the director’s mind and what the production designer had envisioned.”
In this project, William Lubtchansky took on the role of cinematographer, Nicola Gaster edited the work, and Chloe Obolensky oversaw production design. The musical composition was a joint effort between Toshi Tsuchitori and various other musicians
The picture restoration utilized cutting-edge technology. The original camera negative was scanned at 8K resolution with 16-bit color depth, resulting in a massive 450 terabytes of data. Industry-standard software like Phoenix and Diamant required modifications to handle the unprecedented file sizes.
Restoring audio proved to come with its unique hurdles. “The audio cassette was jammed up,” Brook explains. “One step required is heating it in a specific oven so that it can be separated, unraveled. Afterward, you pass it through the machine to digitize it.”
The restoration task was managed by TransPerfect Media France, under the watchful eye of Brook. They worked closely with an Indian branch of Prasad Corporation situated in Germany. Using a cutting-edge DFT Polar HQ scanner equipped with a 9.3K monochrome field array sensor, they completed the job
According to Brook’s explanation, the outcome is profoundly transformative. He notes that it’s not about sharpness, but rather the richness of color depth. It seems as though there’s a sense of luminosity or radiance, an almost lifelike sensation that gives off a 3D-like impression. This is quite peculiar, he adds
In the future, Brook intends to reinstate the complete six-hour cut of his work. He’s examining unique distribution strategies, such as collaborative theater screenings with local cinemas. The “Mahabharata” restoration will initially be showcased at Venice, followed by a broader launch in 2025, which coincides with Peter Brook’s 100th birthday
The narrative significantly shaped Simon Brook’s personal philosophy. He recalls, “The discussions I observed between my father and his colleagues, centered around the story and its significance, were a profoundly privileged and crucial experience in my life.” As time has passed, it seems that the ‘Mahabharata’ may well be one of the key factors structuring my thoughts and understanding of moral obligations (dharma)
Peter Brook, who sadly passed away in 2022 at the ripe age of 97, has left an indelible mark on the world of theater through groundbreaking innovations. “The Mahabharata” stands as a testament to his unique and multicultural storytelling techniques
“Things are quite troubled in our world today, and the ancient Indian epic ‘Mahabharata’ offers insights on many of these challenges. It doesn’t provide solutions, but it guides us on what we might want to consider. My father often said we’re living in the Kali Yuga, a period of strife and turmoil in Hindu teachings. Perhaps Vladimir Putin would benefit from reading the Mahabharata.”
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2024-09-04 16:24