You don't have to know the history to get something from this film.

Rating: 10/10 (22 January 2019)

While I am sure there are inaccuracies the screenplay of this film does a remarkable job of explaining the political landscape of India. The Hindu-Muslim split is apparent from the opening scenes and the film effortlessly orientates the viewer to the various fractions. The resulting film is long, slow but deeply engrossing. Further, the screenplay, perhaps too little, does show Gandhi as a human being with foibles and limitations. In particular a scene where he is asked what about Hitler really presses his philosophy. A weaker film would not have had those tensions. While the films glorifies Gandhi it does so in a tasteful way. It is also nice to see a British co-production not sugarcoat the British atrocities against India all that much. The story seems fair to all those involved.
The technical aspects are first rate. The cinematography, especially, as an exotic and spiritual edge to it. The final shot of the film is heartbreaking in its beauty. Likewise, the scope of the story is handled very well by the director and editor. The film is sprawling. It isn't however a mess. There is also a sense of forward movement and there are the required pauses for the more spiritual aspects of the film.
Obviously,Kingsley is astounding in the title role. He somehow manages to capture the essence of Gandhi without doing a mere impression. The scenes when Gandhi is fasting are especially engaging. I also like how Kinsley and the visuals leaned into Gandhi's small statue. If nothing else Kinsley is the beating heart of this epic.
I am glad I re-watched this. It got better with age.