Gandhi

Gandhi

In this 1983 depiction of Gandhi’s life, the director, Richard Attenborough perfectly shows to perfection the transformation of a young clueless Indian lawyer to the man that became the voice of a nation preaching peace, love, compassion and freedom. Though even if we get to see and feel the political importance that Gandhi had the movie fails to show the depth of his spiritual awareness and values.

This three hour long movie by Richard Attenborough shows and narrates the rise of Gandhi (Ben Kingsley) and his wife (Rohini Hattangadi) and the fight he had and fought to free India from the English by using the power and beauty of non-violence and humility.

From the start of the movie it is already well shown that Gandhi was not a seeker of fame, wealth or power but that did not stop government official and other influential people to seek him for advice and guidance. The first scene is Gandhi funeral and we can see the whole country weeping his death. Be it the poorest farmer or the richest official. From there we begin to understand why Gandhi started to fight for equality, for freedom of oppression, be it because he was thrown out of a train for being in first class or the passing of laws that would see the Indians treated liked savages. The scene and images are well used in that sense because we can clearly see the violence of the English like during the massacre of Amritsar but also the peace and prosperity that Gandhi aspires to like the scene in his home while he is spinning the cotton. The movie or to be more precise the life of Gandhi is not the war between two nations but the war between peace and aggression, between hate and tolerance. The movie is like a game of tennis were we experience both side of the conflict. The difference is set by the tone of the movie, wether or not the action is fast or slow, with the colours, like if they are plain or colourful but also neat or dirty. Another big tool the director uses is music and sound. He plays traditional music but it can be slow and joyful to show Gandhi in his normal lifestyle, it can be slow and sad like during the intermission, it can be fast and joyful, full of hope, like for example when he decides to walk the 216 miles to pick up some salt or it can fast and maybe even dangerous like during the violent conflict, be it between the Indian and the English or the Hindi and the Muslim.

Now this movie might be a master piece but it would not be what it is without the masterful acting of Ben Kingsley. He perfectly translate the emotion we believe Gandhi must have felt and the humility he forced to live with. While watching the movie many must feel the pull that a whole nation had toward this amazing “Great Soul”, as they called him.

It is my personal opinion that Richard Attenborough has completely given homage to the great man that was Gandhi by producing a movie that takes you for a powerful and emotional trip but also and especially that hits you in the heart and inspires you to follow or try to follow in Gandhi footsteps.