Gandhi (DVD, 2001, Special Edition)

The film Gandhi is more a docu-drama since actual film footage from the 1930's and 1940's Satyagrahi (truth and justice seeker) movement founded by Mohandas K. Gandhi became a truth-force for British imperialism and supremacism to reckon with.

The film accurately depicts the life and nonviolent civil rights works of one of India's most important historical figures of the 20th century. It starts with the young lawyer Mohandas Gandhi, at the beginning of the century, being discriminated against on a train. He held a first class ticket there and was made to move; then was called a "coolie" (the equivalent of the US term of bigotry "nigger") and summarily kicked off the train entirely.

Though MK Gandhi could have remained an aristocratic lawyer, he decided to devote his life to helping to stop the suffering of India's people that was created by British tyrannical rule. One of the main principles of Gandhi's original methods of nonviolence was noncooperation with violence. The people of India would quit working for or being taxed by the British. Instead they would "willingly suffer" becoming devotees of "dispossession." They would spin their own threads at a spinning wheel called a "charka" instead, thereby becoming independent of the need for British made fabrics. They would learn to live in ashrams (collective homes/communes/cooperatives).

At one very dramatic and historical point the film depicts Gandhi's and the Satyagrahi's walk that was over 200 miles to the sea where salt was free. Much like the British were over-taxing Americans for tea, the British imperialist regime was over-taxing the people of India for vital salt (in a desert climate).

The show also accurately depicts Gandhi going to jail for civil disobedience, which was his spiritual obedience; the many hunger strikes he went on to near death; the doty he wore that was hand spun; his dispossession only owning a pencil, paper, glasses, sandals, a walking stick, and a doty; Gandhi's world renowned leadership by nonviolent means, with the likes of Churchill and Roosevelt, et al; that his Satyagrahis would willing submit themselves to being beaten for defying British rules, some of the eldest and lamest, while women stood with bandages and splints on the side to nurse their broken and bleeding bodies.

It was at this point, when the world wide press actually witnessed the brutality of British imperialism that the crucial turning point came for the people of India's independence in 1948. MK Gandhi lived for 6 months after seeing his life's mission fulfilled, then on his way to morning prayers was shot to death by one of his own countrymen.

Ben Kingsley plays MK Gandhi quite brilliantly to the degree that he won the Oscar for best actor. The main historical facts are depicted quite on point in this film. I highly recommend it (especially to the Bush adminstration!).

I love this movie. Sir Ben Kingsley is one actor chosen to portray Mohandas Gandhi, played his role brilliantly. The Salt walks (Satyagrahi Walk) 200 miles in the desert was very interesting. As for the Civil Disobedience which Gandhi declared it spiritual walks shows how dedicate a man of humble beginings declared his devotion for his country. A very well made movie, fine actors and such. Recommended highly to watch.