The life of Mahatma Gandhi is inspirationally depicted in this three hour plus biography, which won an incredible eight Academy Awards. Ben Kingsley was plucked from obscurity by director Richard Attenborough to play the legendary spiritual leader, a proponent of Indian independence, religious harmony, and nonviolence.

The film takes place over a half century, with Gandhi's aging made fully credible by outstanding makeup and costumes. The story begins with Gandhi as a young lawyer in South Africa, where his status as an Indian makes him subject to Apartheid laws. Gandhi develops his philosophy of nonviolent resistance to authority, which makes him a hero in the cause of Indian independence from England.

Most of the many characters in this lengthy epic
can be put into four different categories. There
are the segregationalist Western politicians,
alternately smug and despairing. There are the
pro-independence Hindu activists and politicians,
who must be taught nonviolence by Gandhi. There
are Western press and clergy who are sympathetic
to Gandhi's cause. And there are Gandhi's devoted
followers, most notably his wife (Rohini
Hattangady) and adopted daughter (Geraldine
James). Ironically, in a film whose theme is that
everyone is equal, the famous actors of European
descent with small roles are given top billing
over Indian actors with larger parts.

The problem with making a film about heroes is
the difficulty in presenting them as human
beings, complete with flaws. Any eccentricities
that they have must be lovable, such as Gandhi's
insistence upon adopting the dress and lifestyle
of an Indian peasant. Attenborough attempts to
humanize Gandhi by presenting a heated argument
with his wife, in which he orders her to leave
the commune because she won't clean toilets. But
the spat is immediately settled, the wife happily
reconciled and relenting, and the behavior of
both is saintly thereafter.

There is also a natural tendency to portray the
British as arrogant snobs. This is often avoided
by Attenborough, but he sometimes slips: John
Gielgud is a sneering blueblood, and a needless
scene is inserted with preppy cricket players.
But the religious hatred between Hindus and
Moslems is realistically presented, with the
resulting sorrow of the aging Indian independence
leaders effective and credible.

In a film with a running time of 188 minutes,
there are bound to be some slow moments. Gandhi
and wife repeat their wedding ceremony for a
reporter, and the wife's death is drawn out. On
the other hand, the scenes with Gandhi fasting
are well done.

Richard Attenborough was most famous as an actor
prior to making "Gandhi", a project which he had
been pushing for years prior to production. He
directed "Cry Freedom" a few years later, a film
with similar themes involving South African civil
rights activist and martyr Steven Biko.
Attenborough has also continued his acting
career, including a memorable character in
"Jurassic Park".

Perhaps due more to its values than its actual
quality, "Gandhi" won a mountain of Academy
Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director,
Best Actor (Kingsley), Best Original Screeplay
(John Briley), Best Cinematography (Billy
Williams and Ronnie Taylor), Best Editing (John
Bloom), Best Art Direction and Best Costume
Design. (65/100)



Recommended: Yes