Gandhi Reviews and Ratings



  • November 30, 2009
    Gandhi grew up in an Indian town, went to England where he studied Law and received his law degree and he then returned to India. In 1915 he established an ashram at Wardha, near Ahmadabad to train suitable workers for the freedom movement. Although his achievements as one of the...( read more) chief architects of India?s independence were largely socio-political, he saw himself as a religious reformer, a reformer of Hinduism. Because Independent India was to be built on Truth alone, Gandhi reversed the traditional formula ?God is Truth? into Truth is God.? Although Gandhi criticized some of Hinduism?s traditional failings, he was a Hindu through and through; for Gandhi, Hinduism not only was simply identical with tradition but also had to be the religion of Satya (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence), the teachings of the ideal Bhagavad-Gita and the ideal condition of life as Rama rajya which is the kingdom of God. Gandhi had doubts whether his people were mature enough for ahimsa because of the mob violence generated from peaceful demonstrations on occasions. Throughout all the communal riots Gandhi faced, nothing interrupted his evening prayer services at Birla House even after death threats were made. The bullets of Nathuram Godse finally killed Gandhi but he died with a ?He Ram!? (Oh Rama!) on his lips.
    This movie related to World Religion because of Gandhi?s Vaisnava relationship that said, a Vaisnava is not supposed to have anything to do with activities that are necessarily associated with modern Western medical studies- which is cutting into the flesh of the body; therefore he was not allowed to follow his desired career to become a medical doctor. Also, in the World of Religion, people often try to pursue you to change your faith. When Gandhi was in England, all his friends wanted him to become Christian because of his faithful attendance in church, but he remained a Hindu which showed his faithfulness to his religion.
  • November 23, 2009
    The 1982 film Gandhi is a biographical film about the life of Gandhi. The film begins with his assassination and then goes back to an even in South Africa. Most of the film deals with Gandhi's attempt to bring independence to India.

    Overall, this film reminded me of The Last Emp...( read more)eror which was another multiple Academy Award winning biopic. Like that film, I didn't particularly care for this film as I generally do not care for biographical films (Lawrence of Arabia being a notable exception). While I did not care for this film, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did, awarding this film eight Oscars including best picture, best actor (Ben Kingsley), and best director. I suppose Kingsley's Oscar was well-deserved giving how demanding his role was and the artistic Oscars are also worthy given the artistic nature of this film. The academy tends to award films like this the best picture Oscar so I'm not sure I can even complain about that.

    68/100
    D+
  • November 20, 2009
    Really LONG movie about the life of one of India's heroes.
  • November 18, 2009
    Buena. Para verla solo una vez. El mejor papel de Ben Kingsley... y a partir de alli se fue en picada...
  • October 18, 2009
    a very inspiring epic film. sir ben kingsley gives an astonishing performance as gandhi and the whole movie is marvelous.
  • October 8, 2009
    Ben Kingsley is absolutely amazing in the title role. He goes above and beyond in his portrayal. He is brilliant, and it is his performance that helps carry the film through some of the slower stretches. The films main flaw is the unnecessary length. Richard Attenborough does an ...( read more)exceptional job directing. Very detailed, amazingly well produced.
  • October 3, 2009
    speaking of the film that was own by a character... Ben Kingsley is just Gandhi on this... in fact people if India taught so... superb...
  • October 1, 2009
    A non-violent approach to express grievances. We must be the change we want to see
  • September 20, 2009
    In the beginning the movie proclaimed:
    No man?s life can be encompassed in one telling. There is no way to give each year its allotted weight, to include each event, each person who helped to shape a lifetime. What can be done is to be faithful in spirit to the record and try t...( read more)o find one?s way to the heart of the man??.

    The movie starts with the assassination and reaction to Gandhi?s death and then transitions to his humble beginnings as he was about to be thrown off a train, for refusing to move from first class to third class because he was an Indian. Gandhi proclaimed ?I have a first class ticket acquired in the post and I am a British attorney on my way to Pretoria to conduct a case.? Unaware of the bias against people of color in South Africa, his insisting to be an attorney and his privileged attitude struck fear into the conductor and business man who insisted he move to third class and he was ejected from the train. Gandhi was in disbelief that such bias existed and declared that he would fight against such bias through the press and courts. At first few people supported his position but his message to eliminate hatred against Indians and people of color in South Africa would ignite a movement involving people of all colors to peacefully protest such injustice. This protest reached Indian people Hindu, Muslim and other religious sects to unit against the unjust bias and hatred. This message reached British authorities which set out to quash the movement by imprisoning Gandhi and arresting his followers. The movie was very good Ben Kingsley was a good choice to play Gandhi. The movie showed how Gandhi was instrumental in the independence for India and the Indian people. Through his protest of injustice Gandhi was able to bring together people of different religious backgrounds to unit together and fight for injustice instead of each other.
  • September 20, 2009
    This is a great inspirational story about an extraordinary man, Mohandas or Mahatma Gandhi. He raised India from servitude, poverty and apathy and made it an independent nation. He was a very humble, modest man who did not believe that anything good can possibly come from violenc...( read more)e. He was a man that had a huge heart, great courage and respect for everyone. If there is a thing such as a peaceful revolutionist ? he embodies one.
    With his modest ways he inspired many Hindu on his fighting journey for the independence of India and his strong movements for the reform and abolition of the discrimination against any of the religions present in India.
    After India finally achieved its independence from the British Empire, there was a great divide between Moslems and Hindu of the region. Moslem feared that now that British rule is gone, that it will be replaced by the Hindu rule. These people have lived, prayed and fought together, but there is a sudden territorial need to divide the former neighbors. Great migration is on its way and there are many violence outbreaks. Gandhi feels like he failed. Once he finds out about bloodshed in Pakistan and all over India, he plans to travel to Calcutta and pacify the situation. His plans unfortunately have not been favored by all and he was assassinated.
    Again, this is a great story of a common man that became a national hero and gave a whole nation its independence and identity.
  • September 20, 2009
    The movie I am reviewing today is Gandhi. The movie starts off with a young Mahatma Gandhi, who was a lawyer traveling to South Africa. Gandhi is thrown off a South African train for being an Indian in first class. It is then he realizes the unjust laws that have been placed o...( read more)n his people. He began to have non-violent protest, but the protest resulted in several arrest. Gandhi finally gets the attention of the government and receives rights for the Indian people in South Africa. Gandhi is then invited back to India to help in the fight against the British government. His return to India mounted a massive non-violent, non-cooperation campaign which sparked the hearts and minds of the Indian people. As in South Africa, Gandhi faced many obstacles such as jail time, massacres of many Indian people, and beatings. Finally after World War II, the British government gave up the fight and granted independence to the Indian people. However their independence came at a price because the country would be divided by Hindus and Muslims (East Pakistan and West Pakistan). This separation would cause fighting and blood shed among the Indian people due to differences of religions. Gandhi, feeling as if the fighting is his fault, decides to fast until all the violence stops or until his death. Gandhi?s fast works, so he decides to meet with the Muslims. However on this trip he would be shot and killed. This was a great movie that me and my family would have never watched otherwise. I never new the Indian people went through so much to gain their independence. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to learn the history of another culture and religion.

    In 1857 India was placed under British rule, which brought in the Christian missionaries who set out to correct all the Hindu practices they thought were unjust. Some Indians started to believe what they were being taught and converted. Mahatma Gandhi then came in and pushed his non-violence campaign which he professed was the essence of the Hindu religion. The separation of Muslims and Hindus, which created a fight for territory, caused a major riff between the Indian people. Furthermore the riff is stiff going on to this day in the Kashmir valley between Muslims and Hindus.
  • September 20, 2009
    Gandhi is a movie expressing religious and ethnic equality. Gandhi?s courageous acts lead him threw the civil rights movement in South Africa, in and out of jail numerous times while fighting for equal rights with the British. He was a man that stood up for what he believed often...( read more) stepping out of his element, while promoting nonviolence. The move is a little lengthy for me, while showing the struggles and accomplishments. I should have taken advantage of the 15 min. intermission. Overall Gandhi is a movie shedding light on world history and past struggles that haunt a nation. I would recommend this movie for anyone.
  • September 20, 2009
    sir ben kingsley is just brilliant! its like your watching gandhi not ben kingsley! you forget that your watching a movie played by ben!!
  • September 20, 2009
    The movie Gandhi is a biography of Mahatma Gandhi, the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolt against the British through his philosophy of non-violent protest. The movie begins in South Africa a land until recently was gripped by racial divide. Gandhi arrives ...( read more)and is compelled to fight against racial injustice. He starts a campaign of non-violent resistance against laws that deprive individuals of dignity. For his act of civil defiance he is beaten and imprisoned along with hundreds of others. The end result is the government repealed the laws giving Gandhi his first victory and making him a hero too many. He returned to India to find his people in bondage to the British. In the presence of injustice Gandhi begins his crusade to free the people of India from imperial rule. On this most difficult path many people were beaten and lost their lives, but Mahatma Gandhi theory held true. ?Truth (satya) implies love, and firmness (agraha) engenders and therefore serves as a synonym for force. I thus began to call the Indian movement Satyagraha that is to say, the Force which is born of Truth and Love or non-violence? Mahatma Gandhi. I saw this movie back in the 80s when I was a child, but now I am a man and I watch it with more understanding. With this new perspective I witnessed the manifold character of man. On one side man can be kind and compassionate, and on the other side man can be judgmental and cruel. Mohandas Gandhi is an excellent example of the best of human nature. He toke his idea of Satyagraha and embodied it. The essence of Satyagraha is that it seeks to eliminate antagonisms without harming the antagonists themselves. One should meet force with compassion and aggression with passive resistance in hope of ending injustice. Jesus Christ in his famous sermon on the mount said ?That you resist not evil but whosoever shall smite you on the right cheek turn to him the other also? Matt 5:39. The act of accepting blows without retaliation will cause the antagonist to move from a position of hatred to respect. The movie showed Gandhi?s Satyagraha in action and proved that in the face of maltreatment peaceful resistance is more powerful. This mindset would be useful on the world religion stage. A message of nonviolence and religious tolerance like the bumper sticker that simply reads COEXIST. Individual should have the freedom to abide in one?s own religious truth without government rule and discrimination. To denude a person of this right is to seize from them the most basic of human rights, the right to chose.
  • September 20, 2009
    Gandhi is a powerful movie that highlights the real man?s struggle against British rule in his home country. Beginning with his success in the South African providence, he takes his message of freedom from oppression and rule by Great Britain to his home country of India. He s...( read more)tarts his campaign of freedom by taking the back roads ? and traveling throughout the country to see firsthand the affects such as poverty and starvation that the British rule is having on the people of India. Despite being an attorney, he chooses not to remain among the upper class citizens, but instead to stand beside the average man and woman and live as they do, in poverty. His message was one of nothing more than what was right and just ? never about power or control. I find that Gandhi, the man, was able to unite the entire county of India with his message of non-compliance without violence.

    Although primarily this movie was not focused on the religious aspects of this movement, Gandhi used his religious beliefs as guidance on his actions. Gandhi himself was Hindu, but he also exposed himself to other belief systems as well and found the similarities in them all. It was this I feel that allowed him to unite Indians of both Hindu and Muslim faith. So many other world religions tend to focus on the differences between them vs. the similarities as he did and in many ways, it is this focus that keeps the fires of prejudice, oppression, and hate going between groups such as Muslims and Christians.

    Gandhi was truly a one of a kind person who we all could learn lessons in humility and tolerance from. The way the movie opened with his assassination and funeral, and the multitudes of people from around the world who came to mourn him spoke volumes about the admiration he received. I only wish this wide spread admiration was enough to move others to be more like him.
  • September 20, 2009
    This movie tells about India's struggle to free itself, started by one of the most extraordinary men of all time, Mahatma Gandhi. I would be hard pressed to name anything about it I didn?t like!
    In 1893, Gandhi is thrown off a South African train for being an Indian and travelin...( read more)g in a first class compartment. Gandhi 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. This part of the movie shows a few episodes from the 21 years that Gandhi spent in South Africa, trying to force the government to change laws that discriminated against Asians because of their race. During these struggles, Gandhi developed his strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience to unjust laws that eventually served as a model for many political movements around the world.
    Gandhi was a private and humble man, who changed the thoughts and actions of millions of people with his quiet and humble means of protesting against the great injustice of racism. India was granted independence in 1947, and partitioned into India and Pakistan. Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed. Gandhi had been an advocate for a united India where Hindus and Muslims lived together in peace. On January 13, 1948, at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. After 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later he was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion.
    I am very pleased to have had the time to watch this movie and have always heard so much about Gandhi but never really understood his sacrifice and what he truly stood for.
    Gandhi?s triumph changed the world forever!
  • September 20, 2009
    This exceptional portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi's story and how he became such an amazing and inspirational person. Following an extremely eye-opening event where he was clearly discriminated on a train, he took a path of non-violent protest. The extreme discrimination he learns ...( read more)about and experiences seems incredible and incomprehensible to him. This simple man returned to India to learn about the people but decided he could better achieve his work by travelling elsewhere. It is really enjoyable to watch how the movie depicts the struggle toward equality and peace.
    Gandhi's incredible faith is pivotal to his story, this movie and how he took this exceptional path. However, he doesn't seem to try and make his strife focused on religion and the differences in religions. Views of equality often parallel to the tolerant views of religion. Christianity is presented as the dominant religion from which a lot of the discrimination comes from. He gets a great amount of support from many of the Indian and Hindu people in South Africa.
  • September 20, 2009
    The movie Gandhi was an outstanding movie. The movie starts off with a man being shot and people all over the world attended Gandhi?s funeral. Then the movie goes back in time to South America in 1893. The government owned the buses so as a rebellion; Gandhi decided to burn the p...( read more)asses. Gandhi was beaten every time he tried to throw one away until he could not move. Gandhi believed that you couldn?t have unity without a paper or a journal. Gandhi had spoke of the General Smut at a meeting who decided to enforce new laws. Gandhi didn?t want any of his followers to abide by the new laws, or to strike back.
    In 1915 Gandhi arrived in Bombay India. The people of India lined the streets and held a celebration. Gandhi also started a journal in India, just like the one in South America. The people of India decided they wanted home rule. In prison, they allowed Gandhi to have no clothes except one piece of clothing that the British allowed him to wear. On April 6th, Gandhi declared this as a day of strike that included a day of fasting and prayer. It will also be a day when the followers will fight against British leadership. Gandhi was arrested for trying to strike peacefully.
    A British general then brought an army to a meeting held by Gandhi?s followers. The general and his army killed all of the people who attended the meeting. Gandhi asked the British to leave because of what they had done. Gandhi wanted India to be an independent country. All followers were only allowed to wear handspun clothing. A lady named slate traveled from London to live with Gandhi and became the daughter or Gandhi. A freedom march started, which ended in killing 6 police in a riot. Gandhi fasted until the march was stopped.
    Gandhi was then sent to prison for 6 years. When Gandhi was let out of prison, he told the world he would march to the sea to make salt. It would take 240 miles to walk to the sea and the event will take place on the anniversary of the shooting massacre. While in prison, Gandhi?s wife died in prison. India becomes independent, as long as the country split into two. In 1947, a fight broke out between the Indian and Pakistan border. Gandhi started to fast, until a pledge was made from both sides to never raise a hand to each other. At the end, Gandhi was shot by a man and killed.
    The movie relates to world religions in many different ways. It shows the different practices and how followers can be influenced easily. Also, people were killed for standing up for what they believe in. Gandhi also combined Hinduism with Muslim. Followers of Gandhi were acceptant of a couple different religions. Fasting and prayer is also defying the Hindu religion. Gandhi had rituals and life goals that were achieved in the movie.

    (Living Religions, Seventh edition pages 97-99, 103, 108)
    K.Shields
  • September 20, 2009
    Subarna Das
    World Religion
    Date: Sept 20th 2009
    Movie Review: Gandhi
    The message of the movie is non-violence and simplicity. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi won the simple peoples? heart by his simplicity and brought India?s independence by non-violence. In this movie, his style...( read more) proved that fighting for noble cause will always gather support many who are not directly related to the cause and benefits. People still fall for Gandhi and his leadership style because of his sincerity of his purpose and the movies is successful to show his very own non-violence style. He sacrificed his personal life for a greater cause. Gandhi was touched by the Indian poverty and determined to bring the change was needed. He taught the mass that unless one has self respect will never attain freedom. A true leader has to be above all religion and treat everybody equally, like Gandhi did. He showed the world that non-violence resistance and disobedience can be a useful method for freedom movement . He showed that to fight for the masses you have to live their life.
    Ben Kingsley did a great job of playing Mahatma Gandhi?s role.

    How is this movie relate the world Religion ?
    When I was watching the movie I was remembering the chapters we already read ( ch- 1, 2, 3, 13). All the religion came to support Gandhi because of his noble cause for fighting and his unique style. The golden statement he said was ?love and hatred sitting inside peoples? heart and the battle has to be won within?.
  • September 20, 2009
    This movie was very interesting. It is also inspireing to me because Gandhi is like my Martin Luther King, Mother Thersa, and Nelson Mandela put into one. They all have a common goal, and there demenor was so touch to me and my spirit that these people worked for a cause that m...( read more)any of us don't have the guts to do and to do it in a peaceful way and still be genuwine about the situation no matter if they are hurting, facing death, and going through many trials and tribulations. Gandhi sacrifices himself for change and for freedom for his country and social class for equality. He went to many leaders to try to convence them tto change or execept certain things about Hinduism, social class, and Africa. It didn't matter the location, the distance nor any physcal thing that he was facing such as weapons, violence, and captivity. He fasted, he went to jail was still made his point without violence. He expereinced and saw so much negative that would have turned the average person around at the first sight of trouble and still moved forward. That's what you call a true mortar and peace keeper. It would be nice if it influence many of average day american in our society today.
  • September 20, 2009
    The movie ?Gandhi? is an epic masterpiece. Ben Kingsley?s performance as one of the greatest men in history is unforgettable. The movie describes the life of the young attorney, assigned to a case in South Africa. This is where he learns about the discrimination of colored people...( read more), even though they are all part of the British Empire. He appeals to the people, to fight against this discrimination. Gandhi tells his people, not to provoke, but to fight this battle in a non-violent manner. He says that if they kill him, all they have is his dead body, but they cannot take his soul. After years of intolerance and being thrown in prison, Gandhi goes back to India. He is seen by many Indians as national hero. He travels the country, living and dressing as an Indian. People attend his speeches, in which he encourages nationalism. Hindu extremists do not follow Gandhi?s non-violent attempt, and become violent towards the authorities. Gandhi, himself, feels devastated. He starts fasting, so people listen to the message he is trying to give them. He says, that he won?t stop, until the violence stops. He succeeds, and Gandhi?s triumph of making India independent and ending the social inequalities in the country makes him part of Indian history.
    Mahatma Gandhi?s influence on the religion of Hinduism is enormous. He reminded people of the original ideas of Hinduism. The understanding of spiritual truth and the non-violent behavior, practiced by him and his followers, gave Indian people strength and trust in their own culture and religion. He wanted Indians to get back to their own roots, without the influence of Western civilization. Gandhi accepted and tolerated all religions, because in his eyes they all have the same qualities. However, he referred to Hinduism as the universal religion.
  • September 20, 2009
    Wow. What a powerful and touching story. I loved this movie and if you are looking for a film about Hindu History this movie definitely does justice for Gandhi's story and the great change he provoked. I enjoyed watching this film that furthered my knowledge of what Gandhi did fo...( read more)r the Hindu people and women. Gandhi was appalled when he was on the train and the officers confronted him about being colored. I love the way Gandhi stood his ground and did not give into what the officers were saying, which would have lowered his self esteem. I hate the way the officers treated him and through him of the train. All the things Gandhi went though to gain rights or the Hindu and women ranged from being imprisoned, mistreated every day and even getting beaten badly to where he had to be hospitalized. But what was so fantastic about it was that he never gave up and always proved his point no matter what and he was willing to die for this cause. What Gandhi did was an amazing thing and I recommend this movie to all interested. In the end he accomplished gaining equal rights, but a women said he felt as if he had not accomplished anything which I think Gandhi should be extremely proud of what he did.
    It is obvious that this movie definitely relates to the class world religions. First of all the movie is about the history of the Hindu people. And there is an entire chapter about Hinduism in the world religions text book.Second of all when learning about Hinduism it is important to know Gandhi's story so you understand what he did or the Hindus and how remarkable his story is. Watching this movie helps you to get a glimpse of what went on during that particular time period for the Hindus and how they were mistreated.
  • September 20, 2009
    This movie covers the life of Mohandas Gandhi between the ages of 23
    to around 50 years old. Mohandas Gandhi was a strong man that believed in
    equality and freedom without using violent forces. The movie begins in
    January 30 1948 in South Africa. At this time, Gandhi is a la...( read more)wyer fighting
    against Asian discremination in Afica. He does this for twenty years.It was
    at this time that Gandhi adopted his nonviolent ways.

    Gandhi's journey then takes place in India. Gandhi tries to get Britian to grant India thier freedom. The movie takes you all over India. While you are learning about this amazing, influential man, you learn about India as well. Gandhi teaches of political unification and peace as well as religious freedom. Everyone in India, all Hindu people took to Gandhi. They even refer to Gandhi as Mahatma which means "great-souled". India splits in to two seperate regions on the verge of their independence. In 1947 Britian grants India their freedom. Gandhi's vision of religious peace did not work though. The Muslims of India were forced in to a seperate area, making their own country, Pakistan. Gandhi continued to travel and meet with powerful leaders and promote peace. On the third visit, Mohandas Gandhi was shot by a Hindu.

    Gandhi's teachings of controling one's self and doing things God's way has inspired many non-violent movements in the world. Gandhi started the modern belief of religious tolerance. Gandhi, the flim, has a lot to do with the Hindu world. First of all, Gandhi was Hindu. It gives us an in-depth look at the influence of Hinduism. Gandhi personally believed that Hinduism was the most tolerant of the religions. Gandhi's life practices of Hinduism gave me a deatiled account of the religion. India is a very poverished country and religion is very big there. Most of the time, one of the only things that you have. The greeting of putting two hands together and bowing was interesting. This movie really touched me and I think that the modern day leaders of this world so all come together and watch it in the same room. It would do a lot of good for the world.
  • September 20, 2009
    Gandhi
    Mahatma Gandhi got his start in South Africa where Hindus couldn?t walk along side the Europeans on the sidewalk. The Hindus had to carry passes at all times. For example, if a European hired an Indian attorney they could not walk together on the road. Gandhi challenged ...( read more)this with Charlie Andrews. Gandhi started speaking out so Jan Christian Smuts signed a new piece of legislation stating that all Indians must be fingerprinted, no marriage other than Christian, and the wives and mothers were whores who could be taken and used by policeman at will. Gandhi continued to speak of non violence and union-ship of all people. Gandhi took an oath to not submit to the laws of the Europeans. He led marches with the mine workers to free comrades by lying down to avoid being trampled on by the horsemen. Since Gandhi raised so much attention the old legislation was investigated and future immigration was stopped. Gandhi at this time is imprisoned. Gandhi agrees and goes back to India in 1915 during the war. Gandhi was once a lawyer and dressed as one, but since imprisonment he dressed as his commands in white loincloths. Everyone started giving Gandhi names like the father of the nation. He was uncomfortable for he was a simple man. Mahatma started a news paper by doing lawyer work. Gandhi traveled around India to get a better knowledge of the people. He felt talking in India didn?t affect the rest of the world, that they were untouched. Times got ruff with England telling India to plant indigo and no one around the world buying from them. Gandhi gets imprisoned again for speaking out. He asked the governor to get reimbursement for rent and a choice to grow whatever they wanted. A day of prayer and fasting was honored. The British led their army to a crowd speaking out and killed one thousand five hundred and sixteen people. Gandhi asked British administration to remove untouchability from their hearts and lives. Salt was created at the sea by the Hindus as a representation that they were in charge of themselves. Gandhi?s kidneys started failing and while in a crowd a man shot Gandhi. This relates to world religion in the since that with the Hindus and Muslims being told what to do and what to grow. The British dictated the Indians lives. The Indians had to conform to other beliefs. This is like when the British said no marriages but Christian ones.
  • September 20, 2009
    The film beings with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. His funeral is shown where thousands of people gather to mourn his death. The movie flashes back to a young Gandhi. Gandhi, an attorney, is on a train to South Africa. Here, he experiences his first account of racism b...( read more)ecause he is an Indian who holds a first class ticket. He is baffled that he is told he must move to third class of he will be thrown off of the train. Once he reaches his destination, he begins his quest for racial equality. His first arrest occurs because he organizes a peaceful gathering of people to educate them on his intentions and how to achieve them. He makes a statement by burning passes that all Indians are required to carry. Though he is told he will be arrested for burning the passes, he does so anyway. He sees the passes as what sets Indians apart from the rest of society. They were signs of racism. Gandhi burns several of them and in return, he is beaten and arrested. Gandhi becomes an incredible speaker, spreading the injustices that Indians suffer. He gains great support from his Indian, Muslim and Hindu people living in South Africa. He expresses the need to fight, but fight passively. He demands that no one will strike another or kill another though it is likely to happen to them. He is aware of the fate he and others may suffer. He never loses sight of what needs to be done. He knows that passive protest speaks louder than violence. This movie chronicles protests and movements lead by Mahatma Gandhi in order to bring peace and quality in South Africa. The struggle that Gandhi and his many supporters experience is well depicted and difficult to watch. There is great suffering endured by the people to achieve what seems like an impossible outcome. Through all of the arrests, criticism, and beatings, Gandhi's vision is finally realized. Mahatma Gandhi was an incredible person who made his mark in history and will forever be remembered for it. This film related to world religions because he worked hard to change history for the better. Gandhi lead a passive aggressive movement to abolish "unaccountability" The term "untouchable" was given to the lowest of the caste system that deemed those people as outcasts (99). This was a stigma that needed to be erased from South African history. Mahatma Gandhi's felt his purpose in life was to encourage an emphasis that the people's strength lay in the awareness of spiritual truth and in the non-violent resistance to oppression (109). He believed that these characteristics reflected the essence of all religions, including Hinduism, which he considered to be the universal religion. For this reason, Gandhi impacted world religion like no other. His ideas had meaning not just to Hindu or Muslim people, but to everyone no matter what religion. His words had no limit and are highly regarded today. Mahatma means "Great Soul" and I can think of no other name more suitable.
  • September 19, 2009
    The Gandhi movie was enlightening. This movie shows what a private, wise, and simple man Gandhi was. On his way from England he personally went through an episode discrimination. He was thrown off the train for refusing to give up his first class seat for a second class seat. Thi...( read more)s changed his life forever. After this event, Gandhi?s eyes were opened.
    He then started to see that there was discrimination and oppression in the world, especially in India. He then joined a group that led him to decide to protest British oppression of the Indian people. Instead of turning to violence he chose to take the no violent approach. He figured that he could win his peoples independence without having to kill anyone. Gandhi therefore gave up the restrictions of the world and went on a peaceful protest. Despite how much force and whatever happened to him he never gave up his peacefulness.
    This movie shows how ones religion can influence and strengthen them. Through what ever Gandhi went through he always stayed true to his faith. Without it he would not have been able to make it though being in jail for all those years. While he was in Jail his followers protested him being there by going on a strike. That in turn led to hundreds of Indians being killed. Evan after that Gandhi stayed true to his belief that violence was not the way. He continued to preach non-violent ways.
    Finally, his non-violent ways paid off. He was released from prison, and his people were freed of British control. Staying to his religion he accepted winning the ?war?, but left the spoils. Instead his family went back to their home town and lived a simple life.
  • September 18, 2009
    Director Richard Allenborough out did himself with his 1982 release of the film Gandhi. This historic drama won eight Oscars and 26 other awards. It was also nominated for 16 others. This is mainly due to Ben Kingsley?s display of Gandhi as a role model not only for India, but al...( read more)so the entire world. During the film you forget you?re watching a movie and witness the life of Mohandas K. Gandhi from his early beginning travels to his assassination. His growth and development first starts when he refuses to be mistreated because of his skin color in South Africa. This ignited Gandhi?s passion for creating equal rights for all people, regardless of their race, culture, and creed. Gandhi returns to India seeking independence from Britain with a nonviolent protest movement. No matter how hard he is beat down in the process; he gets back up and keeps moving without raising a fist in anger. People throughout India join in and confuse the British because they have never seen a protest without violence. Not only are the people of India taking notice, reports have spread his movement throughout the world and his supporters grow in number. All though Gandhi preached nonviolent action some of his supporters didn?t feel the same way and retaliated against a unified India. Gandhi chose to fast to stop the violence between the Muslim?s and Hindu?s. Gandhi would prove you don?t have to be a ruler of vast lands, but a ?little brown man? in loin cloth could take on the British empire and stand for freedom of a nation.
  • September 18, 2009
    The movie Gandhi is about a man who went to South Africa. Although he was an attorney, and passed the bar in London, he was not accepted in this country. He began to realize this when he was on the train on the way down there. He was told at first to move to another seating ar...( read more)ea and then he was thrown off the train altogether. After arriving in South Africa, he also realized that Indians were discriminated against by the British rulers of the country and by the local police. He began trying to get the Indian people to stick together and fight for their rights. He was beaten and sent to jail many times for standing up to the police and the government. His refusal to comply with a new law that stated Indians were to be fingerprinted and their marriages weren?t legal got him sent to prison. However, the law was repealed due to the attention his imprisonment received. He then realized that if he stood up for his people, the government may listen and change their minds. His main goal was for India to have their own rule and not be ruled under British Government. He then traveled throughout the countryside of India to document the bad ways his people were being treated. His stubborn attitude and deep love for his people never wavered. He marched everywhere wearing a type of loincloth that was made by Indian women or made by him. He finally got the attention of the right people when he was invited to an all government conference in London. From then on he was taken more seriously, and he ultimately got what he wanted. India was finally freed from British rule and left to govern themselves. This movie taught me a lot about Hinduism. Although the main theme of the movie was political unrest, there were a lot of references to Hinduism. His disregard for earthly possessions, his thoughts that ?poverty is the worst form of violence?, the way he treated the animals he came in contact with all displayed his beliefs. Also his wife was a follower of him and believed in him until she died in prison. It was also mentioned in the movie that the Hindu way of life was to give up all possessions and passions. His wife said he had ?given up married life four times ?One of my favorite lines in the movie is when he says ?an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind?. For a man who led such a wonderful, peace-seeking life, he died at the hands of a murderer on his way to say prayers in the garden one morning. Mahatma (Great Soul) Gandhi?s last words were ?Oh God, oh God? when he was assassinated in 1948.
  • September 12, 2009
    One of the best biographic tales ever put to screen. Ben Kingsley brings an outstanding and unparalelled performance.

    93/100
  • September 4, 2009
    Elección ideal de Sir Ben Kingsley (R), que de hecho tiene raices hindúes, para interpretar a uno de los personajes más significativos del siglo XX
  • September 3, 2009
    Powerful epic biopic with great acting, dramatic scenes and shocking violence. Consistently enthralling for a whole three hours, it has the inspirational story of a great man turned into a fantastic screenplay. Deservedly won the Best Picture Oscar, as well as various other Acade...( read more)my Awards, the year it was made in.
  • August 26, 2009
    powerful movie..thought provoking
  • August 22, 2009
    a amazing story. although it was a little long it never lose its wonder of what a astounding man he was
  • August 19, 2009
    Excellent and Fantastic Movie
  • August 18, 2009
    Good movie...Good Man...
  • August 16, 2009
    The movie which was watched with awe and pain when I was at school. The concluding scene stayed in my memory for a very long time.
  • August 16, 2009
    amaizinglly done movie
  • August 15, 2009
    Sensational , Superb , Mind blowing and all the other synonyms of these. A true masterpiece of a film portraying the biography of the freedom fighter and a world icon , Mohandas K. Gandhi a.k.a. Bapu. The films starts out with a scene where Bapu gets assassinated and then zooms...( read more) back in the past to the train journey in south africa that changed it all. Bapu battling against some unjust racist laws in SA starts his life life as a reformer after being a victim of racism .. but only through non violence without laying a single hand on officials. From there on his journey to India, the Champaran Satyagraha , Non Co-peration Movement , Civil Disobedience Movement , Hindu Muslim fallout , his extreme fasting and ultimately his assassination all passes by like a dillusion created by Ben Kingsley's superb acting. Through out his struggle for the Independence of India he believed thet all the struglle is for a right cause and should be achieved by only right means. But after failing to stop the partitioniong of the country he is ultimately assassinated .





    Great direction byRichard Attenborough and the the film is slow paced it never fails to lose its grip on the viewers. A total epic. A weel deserved 8 oscars.
  • August 11, 2009
    THE BEST FILM EVER IT WAS ABOUT GANDHI AND I LIKED THAT MAN VERY MUCH AND FILM WAS FANTSTIC MOVIE BEST PICTURE 1982
  • August 4, 2009
    Fantastic biopic on a fascinating man. Nearly every speaking role is played by an actor of great caliber and renown. Ben Kingsley was the ideal choice to play Gandhi - apparently when the filmed in India, many people were floored by the resemblance.

    Sensational biopic, a good i...( read more)ntroduction to the accomplishments made by a gentle man of intelligence and compassion.
  • July 22, 2009
    Legendary Film of Legendary Indian

    An eye for eye makes the whole world blind
  • July 20, 2009
    Ashamed I haven't seen it yet.
  • July 6, 2009
    I guess technically you could say that this is a good movie, but I've spent more entertaining hours watching my dog play with a bug. Bored the snot out of me.
  • June 16, 2009
    In the opening, filmmakers shows their difficulties to tell the story of Gandhi in a single feature-film.
    But after I watch the movie, I think they did a good job!!!
    The script is well-written, every essence and important part of his life is well-portrayed.
    Ben Kingsley's best...( read more) movie in his career, he is the best choice for this role!
    Eventhough this movie is the multi-awards winner, but personally I think the cinematic elements are just average.
    They could have make it sounds bigger!!!
  • June 10, 2009
    "When we most needed it, he offered the world a way out of Madness."

    "I know a way out of Hell. Find a child, a child whose mother and father have been killed, and raise him as your own. Only be sure that he is a Muslim and that you raise him as one."

    "Mahatma Gandhi had become...( read more) the spokesman for the conscience of mankind, a man who made humility and simple truth more powerful than empires." - General George C. Marshall
  • June 9, 2009
    Very beautiful film! You learn alot from this film. A very nice drama. Also, great acting from Ben Kingsley.
  • June 7, 2009
    Biographical epic on the life of MOHANDAS K GANDHI, a proponent of peaceful revolution.....

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