The Warrior

Anglo-Indian director Asif Kapadia mixes samurai-style derring-do with Eastern philosophy in this uneven but entertaining adventure. Set in northern India in the years before the British colonial period, the film is centered on the peasant Lafcadia and his unlikely elevation to warrior status by the local chieftain. Brutally efficient when following orders (those who don't pay their taxes get killed), the warrior ultimately renounces violence and leaves (following an encounter with a young peasant girl he is ordered to kill—he has a vision of her rescuing him, so he spares her life). But the ruling chieftain is displeased with Lafcadia and orders the other warriors to hunt him down and kill him. On his journey of escape, the warrior encounters ghosts and mystics who lead him to a greater understanding of his previous crimes and his place in the world. The Warrior packs a great deal into its compact 87 minutes, and sometimes feels like too much of a good thing (a larger budget and longer running time might have achieved the epic quality the story deserves). Still, Irfan Khan's Lafcadia is an appropriately memorable antihero, and the stunning Himalayan settings make this an eye-opener to savor. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a director's commentary, an extensive “making-of” documentary, and an hour's worth of deleted/extended scenes with optional director's commentary. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an interesting film.] (P. Hall)