The Warrior (2001)

83% of critics liked it
(41 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(1,995 ratings)

A cold-blooded warrior strives to become a man of peace in this strikingly photographed drama from writer and director Asif Kapadia. Lafcadia (Irfan Khan) is a steel-nerved professional soldier who works as a lawman for the corrupt leader of a local political regime (Anupam Shyam). Lafcadia is… More A cold-blooded warrior strives to become a man of peace in this strikingly photographed drama from writer and director Asif Kapadia. Lafcadia (Irfan Khan) is a steel-nerved professional soldier who works as a lawman for the corrupt leader of a local political regime (Anupam Shyam). Lafcadia is valuable to the tyrant for his ability to kill without mercy, but when he's sent with his compatriots to massacre the people of a small village who've been delinquent in paying their taxes, Lafcadia is struck by a vision of a young girl standing on a mountain overlooking the carnage. The vision startles Lafcadia into a change of heart, and he pledges to lay down his weapon and never kill again. However, the tyrant isn't happy with Lafcadia's decision, and retaliates by putting his son (Puru Chibber) under arrest and burning his home to the ground. Undaunted, Lafcadia sets out on a quest in the Himalayas to find the child from his vision, with the tyrant's ruthless enforcers on his trail. In time, Lafcadia is joined in his search by a fugitive (Noor Mani) on the run from a prison work gang. The Warrior was shot in two versions, one in the Hindi language and one in English. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Asif Kapadia, Sung-su Kim
Written By: Asif Kapadia, Tim Miller
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Animation, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jul 15, 2005 Limited
On DVD: Mar 7, 2006
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
It is hardly the most original story, but Kapadia, the British-born son of Indian immigrants, infuses it so much with stately resonance and spiritual reverence, that it never seems remotely shopworn, much less laborious.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Long before the end, it takes on the quality of a wise fable and reveals itself as an enriching experience.
Janice Page, Boston Globe
If you can forgive its lapses in storytelling and character development, then Kapadia's 2001 feature filmmaking debut delivers, at minimum, an impressive visual account of a worthwhile spiritual journey.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
A film for moviegoers who love powerful stories and ravishing imagery.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
There's a pinch of Akira Kurosawa, a sprinkle of Clint Eastwood, and heaps of originality in this.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
What is best in the film is its depiction of the warrior's epic journey, photographed with breathtaking beauty and simplicity by Roman Osin.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"The Warrior" is a timeless and lyrical movie set against the stunning beauty of the Himalayan Mountains.
Lewis Beale, Film Journal International
Its deadly pacing and almost word-free screenplay make it seem like a very long slog indeed.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
A starkly beautiful and poignant film of evil, family, transformation and redemption set in ancient India.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Considering that this is a film set in feudal India of an indefinite era, the film should be surprisingly thoughtful and engaging for American audience.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Director Asif Kapadia mixes suggestions of violence (mostly off-screen) with sumptuous cinematography and a touch of the mystical.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
A sublime rarity, with its renegade warrior's inner struggle reflecting our wayward society's quest to rediscover its lost soul.
Dan Lybarger, eFilmCritic.com
If subtitles turn you off of foreign movies, you won't have much of a problem with this one. Most of the film is carried by Khan's expressive face.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's little more than a spaghetti western (which here might be called a chapati western), that elevates itself by not sticking entirely with its revenge intended theme.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
A mournful meditation on killing for a living, Asif Kapadia's film is by turns poetic and preachy. It's also unexpectedly gripping.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

A warrior acting as an enforcer for a local warlord becomes sick of killing and leaves on a pilgrimage to his birthplace, but death seems to follow wherever he goes. I haven't had much exposure to Indian films, Bollywood being the main staple of British TV on the rare occasions… More
A warrior acting as an enforcer for a local warlord becomes sick of killing and leaves on a pilgrimage to his birthplace, but death seems to follow wherever he goes. I haven't had much exposure to Indian films, Bollywood being the main staple of British TV on the rare occasions it widens its horizons and being a hater of musicals it it has never tempted me. Being a Channel 4 production, it could be argued that I still haven't, and that The Warrior is another example of foreign cultures homogenized to suit the palate of Western audiences. Being part of that western audience, i think it would be a little hypocritical of me to comment. All I can say is I found this film to be a simple but beautiful looking, artful story of atonement and redemption, surely themes that transcend individual cultures. I'm sure there were many cultural references that went over my head, but Irfan Khan has one of those incredibly expressive faces and intense eyes that seem to be able to reflect a lifetime of pain and loss with just a glance. Lacking any other reference point, I'd have to say it shared stylistic elements with the likes of Kurosawa and Leone. Although it is a little lacking in content it is artful in the sense that it's more than the sum of its parts; it's a simple tale but it somehow manages to plug directly into the emotions. Maybe not the kind of film to be enjoyed again and again, it is certainly worth seeing at least once.
El Hombre I

Using the rugged desert landscape of Rajasthan like a character in the film and capturing stunningly beautiful images, The Warrior is a very visual spectacle which tells the story in a very focused and confident way. Irfan Khan is outstanding in the lead and I would enjoy seeing him… More
Using the rugged desert landscape of Rajasthan like a character in the film and capturing stunningly beautiful images, The Warrior is a very visual spectacle which tells the story in a very focused and confident way. Irfan Khan is outstanding in the lead and I would enjoy seeing him again in Slumdog Millionaire. With a title like this, you'd expect a grisly, gruesome epic. But no, this is a small, intimate drama about trying to change one's life while trying to reject the strong internal drive for vengeance. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=TheWarrior.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/TheWarrior.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Pierluigi P

One beautiful, minimalist, sorrowful tale about the search of peace in a man's troubled soul.
Luke B

It may be critically acclaimed and artistically superior to most movies. However it is also one of the most boring and dullest experiences i've ever had at the cinema. Being that bored I couldn't find much to like in it at all.
Dimitris S

A charming pearl,nowadays,real adventures require a special pilgrimage.The Warrior Within.Khan portrays the spiritual conclusion of an ecumenical hermit.As boring as it sounds,I assure you it's one of the recent "unknown" great films.
Leo L

A great film!