The Biopic of the Century

Rating: 10/10 (20 March 2007)

Time magazine voted Mahatma Gandhi "The Man of The Century." And I have come to the conclusion that Sir Richard Atenborough's lavish and epic biography is the "Biopic" of the Century. Told in a grand epic manner in a flashback of his life, the story tells of the efforts of Mohandas K. Gandhi, a young lawyer who went on to play a major role in the independence movement of India and Pakistan, and the great advocate of nonviolent protest. With then unknown Ben Kingsley as Gandhi, leading an all star cast the film over three hours (3 hrs 8 Mina actually) covers his days as a young lawyer in South Africa, attempting to break the back of apartheid, at least for Indian people in that country. He never held office of any kind, but he inspired a world, in the midst of World Wars and social upheaval.
Excellent performances by Kingsly, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, Trevor Howard, Ian Charleson, Michael Holdern, John Mills among dozens of others, set against the beauty and squalor of India compel you to be drawn into the film. The Amristar Massacre alone is both shocking and telling of the great struggle to bring about the end of British rule in India. If you have not seen it, you have truly missed one of the greatest events in history. A must see.