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IGandhi' a brilliant view of non-violent philosophy in actionAP LaserphotoEnglish-lndian actor Ben Kingsley makes his motion picture debut in the film Gandhi,'' now playing in EauClaire.By Deborah KadesLeader-Telegram staffLate on the afternoon of April 13, 1919, more than 10,000 men, women and children gathered for a festival in a field in Amritsar, India.In light of a recent strike and many riots in the country, the British rulers had forbidden public gatherings, and Brig. Gen. Reginald Dyer was determined to teach the crowd, and the country, a lesson.He marched his troops to the only proper entrance to the field, leaving two armored cars behind because they wouldn’t fit through the narrow opening. Without warning, he ordered his troops to fire. The troops fired carefully, aiming wherever the crowd was thickest.Before the massacre was over, 379 people had learned their last lesson. A total of 1650 bullets were fired, and more than 1600 casualties resulted.It would take a great leader to respond to such a slaughter with non-violence. Such a man was Mohandas K. Gandhi.Gandhi, born in India and educated as a lawyer in England, led his land from British colonization to independence on a platform of non-violent resistance. The epic film, “Gandhi,” tells the story of the man and his country.In a century shadowed by two world wars and the threat of nuclear annihilation, Gandhi’s story is a ray of hope for the world’s future, for the voice of a single man inspired a nation to freedomMovie Reviewand gave hope to millions of others worldwide.In this country, the civil rights movement (and Martin Luther King in particular) used Gandhi’s principles to fight for equal treatment of all people.The movie, which follows Gandhi from his early fights for Indians in South Africa to his assassination by a Hindu extremist in 1948, is a brilliant examination of a philosophy and a history.The events that lead to India’s independence are depicted clearly, and the story moves smoothly from desperately poor rural labors to bitter riots in Calcutta andDelhi to the Amritsar massacre.And always in the center is Gandhi, so beloved by his people that he was called “Bapo,” father, and “Mahatma,” great soul. He was a man larger than life, with rare vision and kindness. His refusal to be part of a movement that inspired violence was adamant. When rioting consumed theland, he offered his own life in return for peace — he fasted until quiet returned.The violence in the film is brutal, yetjustified by the importance bloodshed played in India’s history. And Gandhi’s refusal to take an eye for an eye proved his dedication to his ideals.The man and and his country are colorful and dramatic, but they are more than a story, they are history. “Gancfhi” is a far cry from a history book. Ben Kingsley as Gandhi is completely believable because he is portrayed as a man, not a saint. His temper flares and his spirit flags at times.He also was a man of tremendous humility. During Gandhi’s days in South Africa, Vince Walker (Martin Sheen), a reporter for the New York Times, says, “Mr. Gandhi, you are an ambitious man.”“I hope not,” Gandhi replies.During the filming, Kingsley reportedly attempted to live as Gandhi did, much as Gandhi lived like a peasant to be closer to his people. Kingsley followed a vegetarian diet and lived spartanly to assume Gandhi’s physical attributes and state of mind.Director Richard Attenborough wisely sprinkled the film with bits of humor. Nonetheless, “Gandhi,” fascinating and entertaining as it is, remains a history. The viewer gets a very clear picture of Gandhi’s role and philosophy, but is left with a desire to know more about the man.Two scenes deal directly with his relationship with his wife, Kasturba. One depicts a riveting argument over her reluctance to live as peasants by cleaningtoilets.The other, in which the couple renews their wedding vows, is weak because it is unecessary. Attenborough has explained that Gandhi never would have made so public a display of his marriage, but the director included it to show the deep devotion that Gandhi and his wife felt to each other. Considering the copious accuracy of most of the production, this scene is a flaw.There is almost no reference to his children, although there is great emphasis on his “adopted” daughter Madeleine Slade, an English gentlewoman who became one of his most devoted followers. At times, the viewer wonders how his wife felt about Gandhi being so close to another woman.The film is long, about 3Vi hours. Some may find the length dismaying, but it is necessary to fully explain the events. The only scene that seems too long is the final one, which lapses into needless sentimentality.Because interpersonal relationships are subordinated to political events, “Gandhi” fails to give the full story. Still, it is an absorbing saga, one well worth seeing, for the man is well worth remembering.As Albert Einstein said, “Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
Newspaper Details
Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
Tue, Feb 22, 1983
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Jon C.
NJ, USA 14 Jan 2020
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