I couldn't wait to have us view this highly acclaimed film, which, for some reason, my husband and I never saw back in the day.
Specs:
Over 3 hours; PG
Our family's average rating on a scale from 1-10:
8.63
More about the film and our reaction to it:
I am ashamed at how little I knew about Mohandes Ghandhi. Having now viewed this film, I am proud to have prevented my own children growing up quite as ignorant. This was an amazing movie. I am assuming it is basically historically accurate (because as I have already confessed, I would not know otherwise) and it is one of the most inspiring and profoundly interesting history lessons we have ever had.
In sweep, scope and grandeur it reminded us of Lawrence of Arabia. In fact, like other epic films, its power is similarly in the cinematography, the incredible story, and the great drama of a particular moment in time (here, the rise of Indian nationalism and independence). It is like other epically powerful films also, in its huge, deep and talented cast. But it is unlike any other I can think of in that it has a main character of nearly perfect humanity who is simply a wonder to behold. Gandhi is a historical figure who is beyond compelling -- who is truly admirable and inspiring.
And Ben Kingsley's performance in the title role is flawless. It moved me. I think he moved us all. (By the way, the film received our highest rating since 1953's Roman Holiday and is our fifth highest rated film in the whole festival.)
For my part, I have not been able to stop thinking about the film since we watched it last week. I viewed it again with director commentary and then again without. I'm not quite sure who I am more in love with or find more inspirational right now, Kingsley or Gandhi.
While all of the above might make you think I am about to highly recommend this movie, you'd be wrong.
I recommend Gandhi very highly to adults. And I recommend it with caveats galore for children. First off, parents should know that the film is very long - well over 3 hours; complete with intermission (something we haven't had in a film since the 1960s). We watched it over the course of two nights. Still, it is not just the length, but the very dense story that should make parents think twice before showing. Know your kids and their maturity levels and their endurance before attempting this one.
Its primary audience certainly is not kids. I would imagine that even most teens might be bored out of their minds with this film. Unfortunately, if not bored, it is likely your kids will be horrified. Some of the events depicted here are grotesquely cruel, including the British massacre of a peaceful assembly of families, a scene of workers quietly advancing to be bludgeoned by troops, and a riot scene where parents with children are dragged from cars and many are killed, and other such horrors. As I write this, I'm wondering why the heck I enjoyed this film and how I was OK showing it, but, these scenes just felt (profoundly sad) but honest and true - not gratuitous. In fact, they were really the whole point. The idea that peaceful protest is stinkin' hard for the people doing it, is a point well made here when confronted with the violence they bore.
Gandhi has an amazing speech in the film when he is talking a group of the downtrodden in South Africa into his vision of protest. He says "We will not strike a blow, but we will receive them. ... They may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me. They will then have my dead body -- not my obedience."
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