アカデミー賞受賞の世界的名作「オリバー」をつくりあげたライオネル・バートがピアノも満足に弾けない人物だと言ったら驚かれることでしょう。彼はピアノを指一本でたたき、歌はテープに吹き込み、それをアレンジャーがまとめるという、それが彼の作曲方法。人間、情熱さえあればどんなハンディもカバーできるのだという勇気と希望を与えてくれるエピソードです。１９世紀の
ロンドンを再現した大がかりなセットや衣装、街を見渡せるロングショットにそれぞれの役で踊る人々の振り付け・・・気が遠くなるような作クリエイティブな作業。子供たちにオリバーという物語をこんな素晴しい表現で伝えられるのはこの映画のおかげです。
The film starts out with the scope of what Richard Attenborough is trying to accomplish:
"No man's life can't be encompassed in one telling. There is no way to give each year its allotted weight, to include each event, each person who helped to shape a lifetime. What can be done is to be faithful in spirit to the court record and try to find one's way to the heart of the man..."
The story begins and ends in New Delhi India 30 January 1948. From here, we flash back to Gandhi's younger days as a lawyer when he first was introduced firsthand to South Africa and its injustices. From there we follow him through his trials and tribulations in South Africa and then India. What I enjoyed about the India part of the movie was that while he was learning about India, we get to travel with him and learn about India. Gandhi leaves a message not of nonviolence but appropriate responses and knowing that you're in control. Even though each viewer will have their ups and downs in the different parts of this movie, the two things that struck me the most was when India on the verge of independence had to split into two countries, and when Gandhi was dispatched by of all people, far right wing, conservative Hindus.
Ben Kingsley excellently plays Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to the point that you can believe he is the real thing. However, the rest of the characters in the film have a problem with recognition to the point that you ask, "Where have I seen that person before?" then you can settle down again to the story. A major character that is sometimes overlooked is the soundtrack, which enhances but does not intrude on the film. A victim of more recent films is the salt mine owner Collins played by Richard Griffiths ... Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films.
The Blu-ray treatment maintains or improves on the original Panavision and Technicolor.
Remember that this film was designed for entertainment so sit back and let's be entertained.
