Studio executives summary / pitch
|
| Life
story of beloved father of India/Pakistan.
|
Short plot
summary |
|
The life story
of Mahatma Gandhi (Ben Kingsley). Story
begins in South Africa in 1893, where Gandhi is kicked off a train for traveling
in first class when blacks are only allowed in third. This encourages him, over
many years, to lead dissension in South Africa where he leads civil disobedience,
burning hated passes (id). Bombey,
India 1915: Gandhi returns as hero. He tours the country and is upset by the injustices
he sees. He is persuaded to campaign for Home Rule against the occupying British
Empire. He
is arrested for disturbing the peace, but by using his method of peaceful non
cooperation, and being loved by the population, undermines the British authorities.
A
massacre, where British troops fired into the crowd killing 1516 and injuring
about as many including children, was a turning point. Gandhi leads a march across
the country to the Sea, where he makes salt without a license (as British law
requires). He is not arrested. |
Please
tell me the ending |
| Gandhi
fasts as a sign to his people to not use force, but on negotiating a British withdrawal
of India, then faces problems between Hindus and Muslims. Muslim
Pakistan is born, but there is much resentment with the Hindus. Gandhi
fasts again when Muslims and Hindus refuse to stop fighting. They agree a truce
and Gandhi recovers some strength after the fast. However an extremist, whom Gandhi
had earlier criticized, assassinates him. |
What our
panel of critics thought
|
| "I
love the idea of a general strike. If there is another one soon, count me in!" |
Justify
this movie's existence in the classic strand from
theVoiceofReason.com's Veritable Cornucopia |
|
Now, I am old
enough to remember the Oscar acceptance speeches that Richard Attenborough gave
for this movie and I feel myself dropping off to sleep even now. However, this
is an important movie to make, albeit a little documentarified. Still,
a brave man to attempt such a movie and a reasonable stab at the subject matter
to boot. The production is suitably sumptuous, and the funeral utterly breathtaking. |
Quotable
Quotes (real) |
| Quote
attributed to Albert Einstein, in a documentary in the movie about Gandhi, at
his funeral: "Generations
to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this, ever in flesh and blood,
walked upon this earth." |
Please suggest
a snack for this movie |
|
We recommend
any snacks requiring a suck, rather than crunch. |
Could this
film be improved with more pacifism? |
|
Not really:
The moment of attempted wife throwing madness soon passes. |
Would
your cat like this movie? Would your dog like it? Other pets?
|
| Dogs
will be impressed by the endless walks. WARNING:
They could become agitated next time your walk is less than fourteen days long. Cats
accept Gandhi as being a great man, but never thought it would work out anyway. Peacocks
will enjoy the British uniforms, especially the hats with plumage in - these may
have been edited out of the TV version as they are highly erotic to feathered
creatures. |
How much would you pay for a copy of this movie in goods? |
| A
broken cricket bat. |
If I were to watch this on video/DVD how best should I sit? |
| In
the bathing naked in the Gangees position. |
Other comments
|
| A
movie to watch to see an important period of Indian, Pakistani history: the end
of the British Empire, of which this area was its 'jewel'. The crowd scenes have
been painstakingly shot. It
won a ton of Oscars, deservingly, but it leaves you somehow wanting more. |