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Gandhi
By Liz Perle,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Brilliant biopic engages, educates, and inspires.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Gandhi
Community Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Helps build empathy and historical context
What's the Story?
Director Richard Attenborough's extensive biopic GHANDI begins as the influential Indian spiritual and political leader (Ben Kingsley) takes a stand against the Pass Laws in South Africa and implements his methods of nonviolent protest for the first time. The film spans Gandhi's adult life, showing how his spiritual principles of equality, tolerance, and nonviolence inspired India to push for independence from British rule. The movie pulls no punches in showing the violence that came out of the partition of India into India and Pakistan.
Is It Any Good?
Weighing in at more than three hours, this amazing biopic is a must-see for families with an interest in history or civil rights. Ben Kingsley is brilliant as Gandhi, and the cast includes such luminaries as Sir John Gielgud, Candice Bergen, Martin Sheen, Roshan Seth, Trevor Howard, and Edward Fox.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what motivated Gandhi and why people followed him. How was he a different kind of leader?
What parallels to the American civil rights movement do you see?
What can modern leaders learn from Gandhi?
How does Gandhi demonstrate perseverance and courage? What about integrity and humility? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 8, 1982
- On DVD or streaming: August 27, 2001
- Cast: Ben Kingsley , Candice Bergen , Edward Fox
- Director: Richard Attenborough
- Inclusion Information: Indian/South Asian actors, Female actors
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Courage , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time: 190 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some violence
- Last updated: November 13, 2023
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