Gandhi

Richard Attenborough, 1982

This is a film that makes one wonder of a great deal of things. First of all, it is a very fine passageway to Indian philosophy and spirituality through the story of their spiritual father and national liberator. Secondly it is a beautiful film. Thirdly it gives much to think about spirituality and politics. Ben Kingsley surely is a demi-god for Indian people after his unimaginably well acted role in the film; I think there's no other actor in the world capable for the role with real professional acting skill and the potential to correctly perform Gandhi's constant compassionate smile. However, I only learned quite recently Ben Kingsley actually is of Indian descent, which makes his performance easier to deal with.

Christian fundamentalists please look away, but I have often compared Gandhi to Jesus Christ as first and foremost a spiritual leader that achieved the unification of people oppressed by superior power yet chaotically segregated into mutually hostile spiritual communities. Such poor, uneducated and spiritual people don't have trust for politicians but will only truly listen to and follow someone speaking their own spiritual-religious language. Gandhi, like Jesus, knew very well he was to be punished (imprisoned) by the oppressor, yet the Imperial Roman punishment (death by torture) just was harsher than later Imperial British. The symbol Christians all over the world today bow to essentially depicts the symbol of superior political power (torture device) over oppressed yet spiritually unified people.