Gandhi

Name: Gandhi
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: February 25, 1983
Duration: 191 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Athol Fugard, Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, Günther Maria Halmer

1983

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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Gandhi

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: February 25, 1983 | PG

Starring: Athol Fugard, Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, Günther Maria Halmer, Ian Charleson, John Gielgud, John Mills, Martin Sheen, Trevor Howard

Summary: Gandhi's character is fully explained as a man of nonviolence. Through his patience, he is able to drive the British out of the subcontinent. And the stubborn nature of Jinnah and his commitment towards Pakistan is portrayed.

Director: Richard Attenborough

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: PG

Runtime: 191 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

What is important about this film is not that it serves as a history lesson (although it does) but that, at a time when the threat of nuclear holocaust hangs ominously in the air, it reminds us that we are, after all, human, and thus capable of the most extraordinary and wonderful achievements, simply through the use of our imagination, our will, and our sense of right. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Once in a long while a motion picture so eloquently expressive and technically exquisite comes along that one is tempted to hail it as being near perfect. Such a film is Gandhi. Read full review

The Guardian Philip French

With the help of his cinematographers, Billy Williams and Ronnie Taylor, Attenborough has produced a very beautiful-looking movie that is maybe a little too seductive for its own good. But Attenborough shows once again his skill in managing the big set-piece. Read full review

Richard Schickel

The director's stylistic self-denial serves to keep one's attention fastened where it belongs: on a persuasive, if perhaps debatable vision of Gandhi's spirit, and on the remarkable actor who has caught its light in all its seasons. Read full review

Empire Simon Crook

Grand in scope, the best thing here is still Sir Ben Kingsley's central performance; the film will always deserve to be seen for this alone. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Despite an intelligent title performance by Ben Kingsley and impressive cinematography in the manner of David Lean, this huge, clunky biopic offers less than meets the eye. Director Attenborough seeks not to understand but to canonize his subject; as a result, both Gandhi's teachings and the complexities of Indian political history are distorted and trivialized. Read full review

Gary Arnold

While literate and coherent in digest-of-history terms, the chronicle of Gandhi's remarkable career as a mass political organizer and spiritual inspiration distilled from the biographical record by Attenborough and screenwriter John Briley remains grievously doting and squeamishly evasive. Read full review

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User Reviews

gracjanski

Jan 16, 2022

Classic movie with top actors, especially Ben Kingsley. The story is beautiful, because the results of Gandhi are legendary.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GDsReviews

Jun 7, 2022

One of the best biography epics ever made, and it is about truly one of the greatest people to have ever walked the earth in all of human history in Mahatma Gandhi. A perfectly casted and executed movie that tries in passionate earnest to respect the source material and facts about GandhiOne of the best biography epics ever made, and it is about truly one of the greatest people to have ever walked the earth in all of human history in Mahatma Gandhi. A perfectly casted and executed movie that tries in passionate earnest to respect the source material and facts about Gandhi rising from a humble lawyer, to a leader that freed India from its colonial stranglehold.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kyle20ellis

Apr 1, 2022

I am all for ambitious and stately films, which is why I watched Gandhi. And I like Richard Attenborough, I think not only was he a talented actor and director but his films are very interesting. Gandhi is certainly one of his more interesting films, along with the underrated Cry Freedom.I am all for ambitious and stately films, which is why I watched Gandhi. And I like Richard Attenborough, I think not only was he a talented actor and director but his films are very interesting. Gandhi is certainly one of his more interesting films, along with the underrated Cry Freedom.

Gandhi is just a wonderful film, and do I think it's one of Attenborough's best? Along with Cry Freedom and Shadowlands, yes it is. This film is for me his most ambitious and his most stately, and it is very compelling. True, it is long and perhaps leisurely in pace, but it is well worth the watch for several reasons.

Visually it is superb to look at. It was almost like watching a David Lean film, it has the beautiful scenery, the stunning cinematography and the sweeping colours that a Lean film does. I also loved George Fenton's score, it was very epic and moving. Is it his best? Perhaps not, but it is one of his better scores. Attenborough's direction is superb, and the script is thought-provoking. The story, starting with Gandhi's assassination and told mostly in flashback, is interesting and compelling, while the acting also helps drives the film. Words cannot describe how good Ben Kingsley's performance was, composed yet inspirational, sometimes I felt as thought I was actually seeing Gandhi rather than Kingsley. In fact, this is probably the Richard Attenborough-directed film that feels the most authentic in terms of characters and story. Kingsley also gets superb support from Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud and Roshan Seth. Best scene? Lots to pick, but Gandhi's funeral was brilliantly done and one of the most emotional scenes in film and had massive scope to it.

Overall, brilliant and one of Attenborough's best. 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

FilipeNeto

Mar 18, 2018

This film tells the life of Gandhi, a highly intelligent lawyer of British origin, which joins the Indian independence cause and plays a key role in the independence of India, after decades under British rule. Directed by Richard Attenborough, it has a screenplay by John Briley and stars BenThis film tells the life of Gandhi, a highly intelligent lawyer of British origin, which joins the Indian independence cause and plays a key role in the independence of India, after decades under British rule. Directed by Richard Attenborough, it has a screenplay by John Briley and stars Ben Kingsley in the lead role.

The film is quite honest in the picture that makes of the life and struggle of Mahatma Gandhi, father of modern India. He is portrayed as an idealistic, utopian, combative and determined to achieving his objectives in a way that he considers appropriate, without resorting to expedients that he knows are not right. An icon of passive resistance and nonviolence, Gandhi is played brilliantly by Ben Kingsley, who managed to live up to the role, giving the character a great moral force. The film catapulted him to stardom in all fairness, after a great character reconstruction work (physical, mental and psychological) along several stages of his life.

The film is a classic with classical techniques. No complex special effects or anything like that. The crowds that come in some scenes, such as Gandhi's funeral, are made from real people. An effort partially forced by the absence of cheaper techniques, but compensated by giving a striking realism to the film. This realism efforts found following in costumes, filming locations and sceneries, creating an environment that transports us easily to the time and place of action. In fact, this film could almost be a documentary about Gandhi and the life and society of the British Raj era. The soundtrack is signed by Ravi Shankar, but its far from the impact and relevance of other soundtracks. Anyway, the film reached a deserved consecration, raising eight Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Editing and Best Costume Design).… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ehuisman

Apr 18, 2020

It's easy to see how this film turned to be a classic, with Kingsley's mesmerizing performance being just one of its laudable aspects. But what really strikes in retrospect, is how eager its makers were to elevate Gandhi's mythical status, leaving his personal journey and intimateIt's easy to see how this film turned to be a classic, with Kingsley's mesmerizing performance being just one of its laudable aspects. But what really strikes in retrospect, is how eager its makers were to elevate Gandhi's mythical status, leaving his personal journey and intimate relationships clouded in mystery, if not ignored. This is telling for how fresh the wounds of the world's departure from colonialism still were around that time. The debates were ongoing, the controversy so vivid that this film could not afford to portray Gandhi as anything short of a semi-god hero. It succeeds, but there lies also its weakness.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

JoMa11

Mar 27, 2023

Film makers and actors deserve 9.
I only put 7 because this film idolizes a dark personality like Gandhi (i dont think it would be easy for the producers to act differently), who surely had great sides and that s why his fame is so vivid.
In any case it s educative and you can use it as aFilm makers and actors deserve 9.
I only put 7 because this film idolizes a dark personality like Gandhi (i dont think it would be easy for the producers to act differently), who surely had great sides and that s why his fame is so vivid.
In any case it s educative and you can use it as a base before a real research.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hamidgoodarzi

May 3, 2023

The film "Gandhi" is a biographical film, it can be placed in the category of epic drama films. These films, which are huge film projects that are made with large budgets and many large locations, are made over a long period of time. Basically, they are usually historical events or myths,The film "Gandhi" is a biographical film, it can be placed in the category of epic drama films. These films, which are huge film projects that are made with large budgets and many large locations, are made over a long period of time. Basically, they are usually historical events or myths, and they use a lot of great actors. The special effects and stage designs are huge, and usually throughout the history of cinema, these films win awards in the fields of stage design, set design, special effects, cinematography, etc. Examples of other films in this genre include "Ben-Hur". And" Lawrence of Arabia"pointed out. Gandhi's film also won 8 Oscars.… Expand

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