One of the greatest bio-pics ever

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 2002)

It's a real shame that some people seem unable to leave their prejudices at the door when it comes to reviewing a film. Ah-ha I can hear you say, a review is subjective and thus by definition prejudiced. But what defeats the purpose of a review (or even watching the film in the first place) is allowing prejudice to blind oneself to all aspects of a film. I may hate Nazis but I can still admire the striking propaganda value of their short films pre-WW2. Do you dig?
So is Gandhi the film a 100% accurate depiction of Gandhi the man? Obviously not. To even get a grasp of Gandhi, one of the most analysed individuals ever, requires reading tonnes of books including hundreds of his own writings, understanding his place in his milieu and yadda yadda. Is Gandhi a great film - Hell Yes. For Ben Kingsley's acting, for Attenborough's direction, for the cinematography, for the retelling of a truly enduring story of a man and a nation.
Is it a hagiography? To some degree but then how relevant to a film really are some of the details of Gandhi's life? - that he tested his celibacy by sleeping naked next to his nieces - is this really a hugely important aspect of his life given the trifling other things he did? Should they have shown him bonking his wife as a 16 yr old in another room whilst his father died? Undoubtedly this had a huge effect on his own persona, as he admitted himself, but does it really belong in a film or add understanding? Perhaps if handled with some sensitivity but too late I guess.
Does this picture do a good job of showing who Gandhi was, what made him who he was, what drove him and what he achieved - Hell Yes. Does it tell us 100% everything about him - No but does any bio-pic, ever?
As for the usual moaning from some regarding the portrayal of Jinnah, well boo-hoo. Most of the evidence I've seen suggests that he was rather reserved and stuck-up to put it mildly. What else the film really show? There is actually a film of Jinnah's life produced in 1998 that can be reviewed on this site. Check out the comments there - most of them can only judge the film by it 'being better' than Gandhi - strange way to define a film and reveal one's own prejudices no?