Ghandi

Mahatma Gandhi (played by Kingsley), along with Martin Luther King was the greates pacifist protester of the last century. Here’s a film with protest, massacre, racist and religious related hatred and the eventual assassination of the lead character. Gladiator it isn’t, and that’s one of its strengths.

The film begins with Gandhi's arrival in South Africa. Following the relatively tolerant attitude of his former hosts in Britain towards his brown skin he is immediately outraged by the apartheid system. First he appeals to his British friends believing they have the will to influence the conduct of countries in the empire - but is sorely disappointed.

Undeterred, Gandhi inspires the non-white population to a campaign of passive resistance. Many of his supporters push for the use of violence, but Gandhi resists, knowing that unprovoked brutality from the authorities can change world opinion, while the use of violence would rob the protesters of their credibility.

Gandhi's campaigning and the film itself reach their peak in his fight to liberate India from British rule. Again he chooses peaceful protest to put pressure on the British government. The campaign gathers momentum but is met with resistance until a British general orders his men to open fire on a crowd of peaceful protesters. The resulting massacre leaves hundreds dead, but radically changes world opinion.

Having secured British agreement to independence, Gandhi faces a new fight trying to hold the country together in the face of escalating religious tensions between the Muslim areas of the north-western and north-eastern extremes of the country and the majority. It is characteristic of Gandhi that he is willing to infuriate people of his own religion to accommodate the rights of others, resulting in his eventual assassination by one of his followers in 1948. The partition of India follows soon after his death.

As a white Briton some of the scenes make uncomfortable viewing, revealing a side of our history that isn't dealt with in the classroom. It’s a rational, but emotive account of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, not attributing to him excessive hero status and representing his failures along with his success. See it.

Stuart Jarvis