Must-See Action Thriller: ‘Brotherhood of the Wolf’ Director Raves About New Film!

As many cinephiles wonder about the industries that are revitalizing the language of contemporary cinema, Christophe Gans has a clear answer. The French director, best known for “Brotherhood of the Wolf,” considers India to be one of the most thrilling landscapes for fans of grand spectacles.

Among the works that have impressed him the most in recent years, one stands out: “RRR,” the spectacular epic directed by S.S. Rajamouli, released in 2022.

A Film Experience That Deeply Impacted Him

The feature film immerses viewers in colonial India, depicting the clash between a formidable soldier and the defender of an endangered tribe. Beyond its plot, it was the film’s direction that truly wowed Christophe Gans.

At an event held at the Forum des images in Paris, the filmmaker openly expressed his excitement.

“It was one of the biggest recent shocks I’ve had watching a movie. Not only is it a film unlike any other, unlike anything known in the West, but it also continues in its own way the tradition of Hong Kong cinema.”

According to him, the success of “RRR” lies in its ability to adopt a cinematic heritage while transforming it.

“The strength of [RRR] largely lies in this legacy that has been wonderfully reestablished. Because RRR (…) represents the perfect cultural assimilation of a slice of cinema history by a new genre, a new filmography, and what you see on screen is absolutely astonishing. (…) It’s a beautifully directed film, a stunning three-hour epic, crazy, you have to see it to believe it. The action scenes in RRR are literally unforgettable, and they clearly show that the expertise is now on the side of India.”

Meeting S.S. Rajamouli

Enthralled by the film, Christophe Gans quickly sought to connect with its director. This led him to explore the director’s entire body of work before meeting him.

“(…) I had the chance to have a comprehensive interview with Rajamouli. Because I immediately asked to meet and talk to him. I watched all his films first, then I called him, we met, and Rajamouli confirmed (…) that Bruce Lee was his god and that Hong Kong cinema was the alpha and omega of his cinematic vision. He confirmed in his own words what I had seen through his film.”

For Gans, the influence of Hong Kong cinema is clearly visible in “RRR,” even though it has been reinterpreted through a distinctly Indian identity.

An Industry Capable of Standing Alone

The French director’s admiration is not limited to this single film. In an interview with the channel “Faim de Séances,” he highlighted the overall vitality of Indian production.

“But it’s not just [RRR], there are dozens of others. And it’s a cinema that, like Hong Kong cinema, doesn’t need the rest of the world. Some Indian films – at least, those that perform the best – manage to attract 50 million viewers in a week. (…) They are self-sufficient and have created something that owes nothing to Western cinema, but a lot to Hong Kong cinema.”

A New Vision of the Action Film

For Christophe Gans, Indian cinema has gradually developed its own way of envisioning spectacle, after drawing from various Asian influences.

“They managed to absorb it by initially copying it poorly, then quickly assimilating it and producing their own conception of action. They have reformatted action cinema through the legends of the Mahabharata. It quickly turns into a mythological film, so I would say that Indian cinema is perhaps the closest form to what Italian peplum was at a certain time.”

An analysis that perfectly sums up the filmmaker’s enthusiasm for an industry he now considers one of the most creative and daring in the global cinematic landscape.

Rated 4.1 out of 5, RRR is available to rediscover now on Netflix.

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