Must-see movies required for a successful existence
Why it’s famous:
Probably one of the most thorough biopics of all time, this eight Academy Award-winning movie tells the story of the non-violent movement that led to India’s independence from the British Empire in the 1940s. Politically charged, yet touching and personal, this was an impeccably shot and historically accurate depiction of Mohandas K. Gandhi.
Famous lines:
Gandhi: An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
Gandhi: The function of a civil resistance is to provoke response, and we will continue to provoke until they respond or change the law. They are not in control — we are.
Gandhi: When 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 can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it: always.
Why you haven’t seen it:
The problem with being a student and watching stories about imperialism is you most likely fit into one of two categories: either you’re someone who’s had to study it, and you start yanking your hair out at the sound of the words “colonial empire” or “independence movement,” or you’ve never had to study it, in which case, you’ve listened to people from the first category complain so much, you don’t really want to hear about it.
Why it might be tough to get through:
At three hours and 11 minutes, this epic is not for those prone to dosing off in front of the tube. Though it has its exciting moments, it’s not exactly an edge-of-your-seat kind of film, and unless you can really appreciate the depth of the dialogue and the power of the story, it might be a bit of a dozer.
Why you should see it anyway:
Regardless of how tired we may be of hearing about colonialism, the story of Gandhi is kind of a must-know. Not only is this film incredibly beautiful, well-shot, and perfectly scripted, it’s also a step back from the aggressive and militant nature of movements usually conveyed in the media. We are so used to hearing about revolution being a violent and bloody act that we sometimes forget the purpose of movements we see developing around the world. There is more to militantism than anarchy and violence. There are deep, well-founded, and powerful motives behind these movements. If you don’t watch this movie for its awesome cinematography, at least watch it for its story.
Fun Facts:
• Ben Kingsley looked so much like Mohandas K. Gandhi, some people took him to be Gandhi’s ghost.
• The movie set a Guinness World Record for its funeral scene that used 300,000 extras.
