Gandhi

Plot synopsis:
The story begins with the assassination of Mohandas K. "Mahatma" Gandhi in India in 1948. The following funeral procession is a long one and his body is conveyed on a jeep covered in flowers.The story flashes back to Gandhi's early days as an attorney in the late 1800s in South Africa. He is thrown off a train for sitting in the first-class compartment despite possessing a ticket to be there. He later stages a non-violent protest in the center of town where, with several police officers and officials present, he burns work permits that all non-Afrikaners are required to carry and present to police when demanded. Gandhi's reasoning is that the permits are an unfair and oppressive symbol of Afrikaner rule over minorities. As he burns them, he is struck by a police officer on the hand. Though quite plainly in pain, Gandhi continues to burn the permits, his will overcoming the blows from the officer. He is finally knocked down, unable to continue his protest and is arrested.When he's freed from jail, he meets a young American reporter, Walker, with whom he converses about the oppression of the masses by a handful of bureaucrats. While they walk, Gandhi is confronted by an angry youth (Daniel Day-Lewis in a bit part) and his friends. They demand that he pay them to walk down their street. Gandhi refuses in the face of obvious bigotry. When the young man's mother calls him inside, Gandhi and Walker continue down the street.Gandhi travels to his home country of India. When he arrives there he is met by members of the press who know of his exploits in South Africa. They ask if he'll take up any political causes, especially those in opposition to the British rule of India. Gandhi politely refuses the requests, saying he's only going to his home city of Porbandar. His wife accompanies him. Gandhi's real plan is to organize a non-violent protest against Britain, knowing that millions of Indians will follow him. Very soon Gandhi realizes that the British rule of India is harsh and oppressive, having grown more so since he left to pursue his law degree and is growing worse each day.One of Gandhi's first public protests is against the British textile industry. He urges his followers to weave their own cloth for clothing and other needs and burn the British cloth they've been forced to buy and wear for decades. However, many Indians, both Muslim and Hindu, stage more aggressive protests. The crowds become angry mobs when they are attacked by the police. Gandhi appears inwardly angry that his message has been misunderstood.In Amritsar, a city in Northern India, a group of Indian citizens gather in the Jallianwala Bagh garden to protest an unfair town curfew. Though the protest was peaceful, a British general, Reginald Dyer, orders his troops into the garden. They take up firing positions in the courtyard. When one of his lieutenants suggests that the protest is peaceful, Dyer says that the people have "had their warning" and commands his troops to open fire. Many are killed.a trial is held by the Hunter Commission, comprised of British and Indian officials. Dyer himself testifies and is at first quite proud and defiant, claiming he wished to "inflict a lesson that would be felt through all of the India". When asked if he'd ordered his troops to fire at the thickest part of the crowd, he says yes. He also states he would have used the machine gun on the tank that accompanied his troops (it was unable to fit through the narrow passage to the garden). When an Indian attorney asks Dyer if he attempted to help the wounded in any way, he becomes agitated and says he would have. A British official asks him how a wounded child that had been shot would be able to approach him for help. Dyer is silent.Nevertheless, the campaign generates great attention, and Britain faces intense public pressure. After World War II, Britain finally grants Indian independence. Indians celebrate this victory, but their troubles are far from over. The country is subsequently divided by religion. It is decided that the northwest area and the eastern part of India (current-day Bangladesh), both places where Muslims are in the majority, will become a new country called Pakistan. It is hoped that by encouraging the Muslims to live in a separate country, violence will abate. Gandhi is opposed to the idea, and is even willing to allow Muhammad Ali Jinnah to become the first prime minister of India, but the Partition of India is carried out nevertheless. Religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims erupt into nationwide violence. Horrified, Gandhi declares a hunger strike, saying he will not eat until the fighting stops.The fighting does stop eventually.Gandhi spends his last days trying to bring about peace between both nations. He thereby angers many protesters on both sides, one of whom (Godse) is involved in a conspiracy to assassinate him.
As Godse shoots Gandhi in a scene recalling the opening, the film cuts to black and Gandhi is heard in a voiceover, saying "Oh, God!" The audience then sees Gandhi's cremation; the film ending with a scene of Gandhi's ashes being scattered on the holy Ganga. As this happens, viewers hear Gandhi in another voiceover from earlier in the film:When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but, in the end, they always fall. Think of it. Always.

Tags: violence, historical, murder

Review:
Yet men, governments, dignitaries from all over the world, have joined hands today to pay homage to the little brown man in the loin cloth, who led his country to freedom."This quote is from the funeral scene in the 1982 film "Gandhi".
Throughout the long film you forget you are watching an actor playing the part of a great man in history: you are watching the real Gandhi.
Charleson, in his clerical collar, looks like he has walked in off the set of the preceding year's Academy Award winner, Chariots of Fire (where he played the Scottish sprinter-missionary, Eric Liddell).This movie won eight Oscars, with Attenborough, Briley, and Kingsley all earning honors.
As soon as I finished watching Gandhi, I thought to myself "This movie had to have won Best Picture." I think it's one of the best epics of all time.
"Mahatma" Gandhi - played to shocking perfection by the wonderful Sir Ben Kingsley - this is a film that I can say really, deeply affected me with its power, its scale, and of course, its timeless message of love and non-violence.
The life of the legendary man from India (dominant Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley, who was a total unknown theatrical newcomer at the time) who gave up work as an attorney to defy British rule throughout the first half of the 20th Century before falling to an assassin's bullet in 1948.
Thinking back, I suppose I have now seen many (sometimes good) films that follow the same recipe: One man makes a difference.But this film is an exception in so many ways:1) It was made in 1982, so it came before many of them.2) It has amazingly well-displayed historical significance.3) Great performances in a near-flawless, frank scrpit.This film does not bother the viewer with an opening montage of scenes of the main character at various ages ("Dragon", I'm looking at you).
With its subtle relevance to today's situations in that part of the world, this is a history buff must-see.Watch this film and see great performances (an obvious oscar went to Ben Kingsly), excellent cinematography, and a wonderful inspiring story, whose essence soars well above the corny, do-gooder mentality of other pitiful efforts of "bio-pics".10/10.
For those who found it "boring" or "too long," you folks need to just stick to stuff like "Star Wars," "Terminator," "Spiderman," or perhaps reality TV would be more your cup of tea.For those who like to actually see real human history come to life on the screen, "Gandhi" is a true masterpiece for all times.
century!I find it odd that aside from a fine performance in "Shindler's List," that Ben Kingsley has really been a major disappointment as an actor following his role as "Gandhi." Perhaps like George C.
While filming the movie in the small towns of rural India, there were those older people who actually remembered seeing the original Gandhi who collapsed in shock when they saw Kingsley in his makeup.
After so many years I finally broke the ice and saw the movie in totality right from the first scene of Nathuram Godse, to Hey Ram, and I understood that Gandhi was as British, as much a part of Britain's history as he was of India's, in fact an outsider judged the person better than we ourselves could, hence without doubt this is a masterpiece, because it was always meant to be.
Gandhi (excellent Ben Kingsley) realizes that the laws are biased against Indians and decides to start a non-violent protest campaign for the rights of all Indians in South Africa .
Ample support cast formed by notorious secondaries playing brief roles , many of them performing historical characters , such as Candice Bergen as photographer Margaret Bourke-White , Edward Fox as General Dyer , John Gielgud as Lord Irwin , Trevor Howard as Judge Broomfield , John Mills as The Viceroy , and Indian actors such as Saeed Jaffrey as Sardar Patel , Alyque Padamsee as Mohammed Ali Jinnah , Om Puri , Amrish Puri as Khan and Roshan Seth as Pandit Nehru .
The motion picture was correctly based on historic events , these are the following : Gandhi returns to India in 1915 from South Africa , there he carries out the 'salt march' , he subsequently declares a hunger strike, saying he will not eat until the fighting stops .
He shows the young man shocked to see what is happening to his fellow Indians who go to Africa, the idealist trying to form the Ashram in his home country, the leader standing up to the English, and the aging man distraught over the conflict between the religious groups in India.But this movie is worth seeing for other reasons as well.
One of this century's true heroic figures, it is a crying shame that more than 50 years later, we are still dealing with the dangerous fallout of the Indian-Pakistani aggression that he so desperately sought to end.Count this movie amongst the great epics of cinematic history.
As a Hindu mystic Gandhi is not an easy character for a Western European to fully appreciate but after watching this film one does really begin to develop some understanding of his life and times.
Historically there are only a few recorded triumphs of non-violent revolts over the government of the day - the best known are probably the rise of Christianity in pagan Rome, and the independence of India from the British Raj. The latter is better documented, and this film is significant because of the way in which it shows how non-violent protest can be successful against what appear to be all the odds.
However this is of less importance than the fine re-creation of life as it was lived in India at the time, and the magnificent acting - particularly the award winning performance of Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi.
If I were to liken Attenborough's "Gandhi" to any other epic film, I would choose Spike Lee's "Malcolm X." Initially, of course, this may appear rather irrational, but just because Gandhi and Malcolm X differed in their methods (at least as historians and filmmakers would have us believe) their ends and many of their attitudes were exactly the same.Both men believed in the dignity of their people (whether "their" was defined across racial or national lines makes little difference) and, consequently, both believed in their right to freedom, to liberty.
The film is about Mahatma Gandhi (Ben Kingsley) and his struggle to free India from British rule.
Especially the fact that the script was written around the words of Gandhi and the situations he became involved in from the beginnings in South Africa to the torture and massacre in India, makes the film special and unique.
We see, for example, Gandhi's young sons near the start of the movie and yet we never meet them again, which seems kind of odd, because his wife plays a fairly major role in the film.
These are Gandhi's words when Hindus and Muslims are killing each other in the 1982 biographical drama "Gandhi" about the man who freed India.It was written by John Briley and produced and directed by Richard Attenborough.
The movie shows this in an entertaining way and is an important historical memory at the same time.Even 45 years after its release, the cinematography of "Gandhi" is still kind of breathtaking.
Attenborough won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for best direction.Gandhi is played by Ben Kingsley, who was an unknown actor at that time.
Deservingly he won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for best actor.All in all, I can only recommend watching "Gandhi" as it just is a wonderful movie with a great atmosphere.
You know you lived for a long time when you don't die until twenty after you played an old man in a film.But of all his accomplishments, his greatest is directed this classic about one of the most important men in the twentieth century.
But it is number forty four in my top one hundred films for a few reasons: one, it is the definitive image on how to do a wide-ranging biopic, as well as the definitive image on one of the world's most important men; two, it is one of the grandest movies in history, one with a scale nothing short of extraordinary, a scale that will stick in your mind long after you see it, a scale that evokes the same emotions in the viewer as one imagines were felt by Gandhi; three, it is brilliantly acted on all fronts, particularly by the man who plays Gandhi, the great Ben Kingsley, perhaps proving the adage that Brits make the best actors; and four, it takes the watcher on a journey, churning their emotions up and down like a boat on the stormy open seas, leaving them different and changed and in all venues, satisfied.The film begins with Gandhi getting shot.
This is a rather dark way to start what is ultimately an uplifting movie, but it is a good decision if one is to think about it: all of Gandhi's work is against the backdrop of racism and violence and crude, ignorant anger, and this depiction of this cold, callous, resentful act establishes the backdrop of the film, against which we see all the positive, progressive events take place.
It is a good way to draw the reader into the story and put them firmly in the world of the film, a decision that becomes even sharper when you think about the fact that this movie is a historical epic, the sort of movie that many people could easily tune out of unless you give them a reason to stay awake.
Attenborough's in-depth research work and perfect casting of Ben Kingsley and Rohini Hattangadi for the lead roles of Gandhi and Kasturba contributed a lot to make it an unforgettable movie.
This movie perfectly describes how Gandhi set to achieve his goals despite the British Empire trying to stop him.Richard Attenborough's film is about the life of Gandhi from his early adult life all the way to his brutal end.
This film from Richard Attenborough was the second 1980s success story for British cinema, and rightly so, winning Oscars including Best Actor for Ben Kingsley - playing Gandhi brilliantly here.
Even if you don't know the story of Gandhi and where he was coming from, you can gain some understanding of and empathy with the man through this film.Famous faces appear in brief roles throughout, including Edward Fox, Trevor Howard, John Mills, John Gielgud, and Saeed Jaffrey.
All of the major events in India's push for independence are portrayed, though I do think that a greater Indian rather than British interpretation of these events is needed to make this film an all-time classic.
This movie is an excellent example that a great film is not solely based on the most modern special effects, but instead manages to bring the life of a most exceptional man nearer to the viewer.
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.
Mahatma Gandhi (Ben Kingsley) uses his wisdom and power to achieve independence and freedom for India.
Compromise slowly happens through many life taking events on both sides.Sir Richard Attenborough's 1982 multiple-Oscar winner (including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley) expresses the religious beliefs and determination of India.
It also happens to be an Indian British co-production.Ben Kingsley stars as Gandhi and he looks similar to him in this film.
Krishna Bhanji (better known as Ben Kingsley) comes up with what I can easily term as one of the finest performances I have ever seen, which is an apt tribute to such a strong character on the script and in reality as well.After knowing the fact that this picture stands firm on the shoulder of a 23 years old study by Attenborough, on Gandhiji, which was flagged off by Javaharlal Nehru himself, this depth in the film doesn't remain a surprise anymore.
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.
And Ben Kingsley's Gandhi dominates the film, no wonder he received his Oscar for Best Actor.
Burning passes is the first step towards a life spent in peaceful protest, massive social change and ultimate assassination.Taking on the unenviable task of doing justice to the life of Gandhi in a matter of three hours, Richard Attenborough has produced a professional film that presents the story in an engaging, easy to follow way that sees the hours slip effortlessly by.
Attenborough's direction is strong and the use of locations is impressive  the film never really loses the sense of place, time or people that it creates from the very start.The cast greatly helps this sense of place and they are led by a fantastic performance from Ben Kingsley, who marked this film as the one he will always be best known for no matter what else he does.
Gandhi (Ben Kingsley), the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.The cast is pretty amazing: Martin Sheen, Candice Bergen, Daniel Day-Lewis.
After that, the movie falters, and we see less about Gandhi than the political events that follow, not delivered with great accuracy.Ben Kingsley delivers a perfect performance, looking and acting the part.
He was such a treasure to the people that fear of his death could make them stop fighting.Richard Attenborough filmed in India and assembled a splendid cast that includes: John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, Candace Bergen, Edward Fox, John Mills, Martin Sheen, Athol Fugard, Nigel Hawthorne, even then newcomer Daniel Day-Lewis in a small role.Writer John Briley fashioned a magnificent script and probably worked through tons of material in order to do it.Now we come to Ben Kingsley.
Film Review: "Gandhi" (1982)Director Richard Attenborough (1923-2014) at the peak of its creative powers, accumulating a massive independently-gathered budget throughout this international UK-based production on the real-life events of a historic cinematic-compelling figure Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), in this case with amazing-resemblance portrayed by actor Ben Kingsley, who carries the picture with devote charisma, when also-producing director Richard Attenborough captures the life and death of "Gandhi" from his early days as law school graduate in race war-mongering "South Africa" at the turn of the 20th century towards the outbreak of World-War-One in 1914 before this overly-righteous regarded character gets glorified to a legend of modern resistance against Imperalistic regimes in this case the India-occupying British Empire, which like no others indulges into colonialism, starting exceedingly under iron-handed ruling Queen Victoria (1819-1901).Cinematography by switching lighting cameramen and the décor of the picture are researched to the utmost of authenticity by production designer Stuart Craig, also known for winning Academy-Awards for "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988) and "The English Patient" (1996), in favors for a solidly as towards classic Intermission striking director, who has not shy away from presenting his fellow country-men as barbarous, relentless, arguably cruel ingeniously-performed due to impeccable dignity by actor Edward Fox, at age 44, when endless suffering scenes in almost two decades of the leading character's encampment under lowest life-form conditions with recurring "Hunger-Strikes" that word-of-mouth reaches the highest occupying military ranks and governmental monarchic rulers that the end of a seemingly-vvasted life of less than joy proportions gets only justified by a county's independence declared on August 15th 1947, when comparison toward today's India got closer then ever to western civilization policies of the richest and the fittest in a global player ongoing cold-served undermining war of dominion, where reason on frequent basis must perish.
He was convinced that the movie would be telling one of the 20th- century's most remarkable stories that of the Indian lawyer who returned from racially segregated South Africa to drive the British out of his home country through successive acts of non-violent protests.Ben Kingsley played Gandhi and is therefore the main character in the movie.
Attenborough tells Gandhi's story: The story of an Indian lawyer, who returned from South Africa to help his country gain its independence through successive acts of non-violent protest.
This three-hour film probably tells one of the 20th century's most remarkable stories as Mahatma Gandhi created a new form of peaceful protests in India, which have been affecting history.
The 1982 movie "Gandhi" written by John Briley and produced and directed by Richard Attenborough, tells the story of Gandhi's life and shows the viewer his opinion on the Indian society.
It is not possible to summarize the life of a so important man like Gandhi in just one three-hour movie but the producers did a good job.
When I saw the events of 1947 portrayed in the 2017 film "Viceroy's House", I was encouraged to revisit the earlier film which I think deals with these events more powerfully."Gandhi" was a triumph both for Richard Attenborough, as producer and director, who worked for 20 years to bring the story to the big screen and for Ben Kingsley, a man whose father was Indian but who had until then had a minor profile, proving to be a superlative choice for the eponymous role.
This film tells the life of Gandhi, a highly intelligent lawyer of British origin, which joins the Indian independence cause and plays a key role in the independence of India, after decades under British rule.
Directed by Richard Attenborough, it has a screenplay by John Briley and stars Ben Kingsley in the lead role.The film is quite honest in the picture that makes of the life and struggle of Mahatma Gandhi, father of modern India.
Richard Attenborough's Gandhi is the best and most inspirational movie of 1982.