Whenever I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they may seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail. Think of it: always. Mohandas K. Gandhi.
A 1982
Epic Movie directed by Richard Attenborough,
Gandhi is the bio-pic of Mohandas K. Gandhi, aka Mahatma Gandhi. The titular role was played by Ben Kingsley in his star making Oscar-winning role. Its story concerns Gandhi as he leads the non-violent fight for India’s independence from the British Empire. Along the way, he earns the respect of much of the world and enemies of all forms.
In addition to Kingsley’s award, this won seven other Oscars, including Best Picture, and it holds the record for biggest cast, having around 300,000 people including extras.
For the individual, see the page
Mahatma Gandhi.
This work shows examples of:
- Actual Pacifist: Gandhi, obviously. As he states early in the film: "In this cause, I too am prepared to die. There's no cause for which I'm prepared to kill."
- All Star Cast
- Badass Pacifist: The protagonist.
- Bald of Awesome: Gandhi himself.
- Biopic
- Eccentric Mentor: Gandhi, especially when dealing with Smuts and directly after he comes home from South Africa and has to deal with the wealthy congressmen of India - he comes off as a excessively polite and eccentrically wistful, until he starts doing things and moving whole countries right under their noses.
- Smuts being the name of a British official.
- Epic Movie
- Fake Nationality: Subverted. Ben Kingsley is British by birth, but he is of Indian descent.
- Foregone Conclusion: The film starts with Gandhi’s murder.
- General Ripper: General Reginald Dyer.
- Hey, It's That Guy!: Aside from Ben Kingsley, there are several familiar faces to look out for. Roshan Seth, Amrish Puri (pre-Temple of Doom), Bernard Hill (pre-Lord of the Rings and pre-Titanic), John Ratzenburger, Colin Farrell (no, not that Colin Farrell), Martin Sheen and Daniel Day-Lewis show up in the movie.
- Mononymous Biopic Title
- Moral Event Horizon: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar.
- Music for Courage: Gandhi inspires his fellow Indians to protest discriminatory laws in South Africa with his speech - and a rendition of God Save the King.
- Oh Crap: The gathered crowd inside the Jallianwala Bagh just before General Dyer orders to fire.
- Really Gets Around: As this movie was an attempt to show Gandhi's life honestly, it also portrayed his well-known affinity for women.
- La Résistance
- The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified: The trope Gandhi lives for
- Shaming The Mob: Gandhi fasts as he sees his followers act violently, leading them to stop every time.
- Star Making Role: For Ben Kingsley, as he nailed the Oscar for Best Actor.
- Too Good For This Sinful Earth
- What Could Have Been: Attempts to make a Gandhi biopic were started in the 50’s; David Lean was considered for the director’s chair.
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