The Warrior [DVD] [2002]

The images of Asif Kapadia's first feature film, The Warrior, sear themselves in the mind: the warrior practising with his sword in front of a half-alive tree, or a close-up of a scorpion scuttling across the desert as a camel cart goes by. Restrained beauty pervades the film in the choice of locations, costumes and the framing of each shot, but those unaccustomed to art cinema will feel the absence of story in this visual, mystical odyssey which uses few words, as looks and images carry the film. Irfan Khan brings a quiet, powerful presence of haunting intensity to the role an Indian "samurai", seemingly a homage to Kurosawa. The warrior has an epiphany after a bloodthirsty encounter that leads him to abandon his life in the desert and head for the pure snows of the Himalayas. This film (that repays repeat viewing and introduces major new talent) is likely to become a landmark.

On the DVD: The Warrior's picture quality on disc does justice to the film and the extras are rewarding. The young director is sincere and reflective, as shown in his scene-by-scene commentary and on the deleted material, the latter lasting over an hour. The making of documentary is absorbing. --Rachel Dwyer

• The Sheep Thief (student film courtesy of the Royal College of Art
  
• Director’s Commentary
  
• Making of … documentary
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• Featurette
  
• Theatrical trailer

DVD Technical Information:

Video Aspect Ratio (feature): 2.35:1 Anamorphic

Main Soundtrack: Hindi, Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles: English

Disc Format: Single Sided, Dual Layer – DVD 9

Feature Length: 87 mins approx.

Colour PAL

Directed by the award-winning Asif Kapadia, The Warrior is a sweeping mythical adventure story about a lone warrior’s spiritual journey from the deserts of Rajasthan to the snow-capped peaks of the Himalyas. Irfan Khan stars as the head of a small band of warriors in the employ of a tyrannical lord. A mystical encounter leads him to reject his violent life, but this decision comes at a devastating personal cost. This DVD includes Kapadia’s acclaimed short film The Sheep Thief.

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Hindi ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Documentary, Featurette, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, Short Film, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: The images of Asif Kapadia's first feature film, The Warrior, sear themselves in the mind: the warrior practising with his sword in front of a half-alive tree, or a close-up of a scorpion scuttling across the desert as a camel cart goes by. Restrained beauty pervades the film in the choice of locations, costumes and the framing of each shot, but those unaccustomed to art cinema will feel the absence of story in this visual, mystical odyssey which uses few words, as looks and images carry the film. Irfan Khan brings a quiet, powerful presence of haunting intensity to the role an Indian "samurai", seemingly a homage to Kurosawa. The warrior has an epiphany after a bloodthirsty encounter that leads him to abandon his life in the desert and head for the pure snows of the Himalayas. This film (that repays repeat viewing and introduces major new talent) is likely to become a landmark.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, Berlin International Film Festival, Camerimage Awards, European Film Awards, San Sebastian International Film Festival, ...The Warrior