Lists
- ranked 5 in Roger Ebert's Best Films of 1983
- ranked 34 in BFI 100
- ranked 172 in The IMDb Top 250
- ranked 608 in They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1000 Greatest Films (March 2006)
- ranked 627 in They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1000 Greatest Films (August 2005)
- ranked 648 in They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1000 Greatest Films (December 2006)
- one of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
- one of AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies Nominees
- one of BAFTA Best Film Winners
- one of Best Director Academy Award Winners
- one of Best Picture Academy Award Winners
- one of New York Film Critics Circle Best Film Winners
- one of The New York Times Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made
It doesn't seem quite right that I should be prompted into finally seeing Gandhi by Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Tiger and its sequels, historical adventure novels of British colonial conquest. Though some attempt is made to show the local point of view -- i.e., not entirely appreciative of the intrusion -- the perspective is chiefly that of an English soldier, in it for pride, blood and loot.
At any rate, it makes for an interesting counterpoint to Gandhi himself, renowned as an Indian nationalist and a pacifist. The film charts his life from his time as a civil rights campaigner in South Africa, through his passive resistance to British rule, and up to his assassination by a Hindu extremist after independence -- and partition -- had been achieved. It's not a particularly good film, either; it's beautifully shot, and Ben Kingsley is excellent in the title role, but cramming decades into a mere three hours makes for an uneven and disjointed experience. There's nothing notable about John Briley's screenplay; if anything, it's a miracle that the story is powerful enough to shine despite it.
Worth a look, but it's Gandhi the man you're paying to see. Gandhi the film is a trivial detail.