Gandhi's Children

2008
3h 5m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

YOUR RATING

A shelter for children on the outskirts of Delhi provides food and accommodation for 350 boys. Some are orphans, others have been abandoned, still others have run away from home. About half are held under a court order, having been picked up from the streets for petty crimes. Living at the institution for several months, the filmmaker explores its routines and the varied experiences of several boys. Despite the harshness of their lives, many show remarkable strength of character, knowledge, and resilience. One day 181 child laborers arrive, placing an additional strain on the building's deteriorating facilities. The institution does what it can, but is it enough?

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Documentary Drama

A shelter for children on the outskirts of Delhi provides food and accommodation for 350 boys. Some are orphans, others have been abandoned, still others have run away from home. About half ... Read allA shelter for children on the outskirts of Delhi provides food and accommodation for 350 boys. Some are orphans, others have been abandoned, still others have run away from home. About half are held under a court order, having been picked up from the streets for petty crimes. Liv... Read allA shelter for children on the outskirts of Delhi provides food and accommodation for 350 boys. Some are orphans, others have been abandoned, still others have run away from home. About half are held under a court order, having been picked up from the streets for petty crimes. Living at the institution for several months, the filmmaker explores its routines and the var... Read all

Director
- David MacDougall

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- David MacDougall

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Videos1

Clip 2:19

Gandhi's Children

Photos

User reviews1

7.69

Featured reviews

10loliver-9

Wow! This was pure filmmaking at it's finest

I cannot believe I have not heard more about David MacDougall and his films or that this film has no had IMB reviews. My wife encouraged me to go along with her to a screening of Gandhi's Children because she was impressed by a book MacDougall had written on ethnographic filmmaking. The documentary that unfolded was breathtaking, beautifully crafted in every respect. A mix of long continuous takes and shorter shots were framed and lit (available light only) to perfection, capturing atmosphere, revealing layers of enthralling action and story; the change in camera angles was nimble and cleanly structured for the "drama". MacDougall spoke after the film and it was revealed, unbelievably it was all had held camera work, yet it was so steady and considered. The editing, based in natural chronology was inspired, the way it built characters and interwove them into a seamless fabric that was so rich in textures and sense of place. Ahhh! This is how life (lives) can be brought to us through the lens of a camera. To say the images were "captured" feels too violet a term for what I saw. I cannot remember ever feeling this close to the people in a film, and what people they are. No judgments or classifying, a pure celebration / meditation on human existence. If you think this is too much praise I advise you see for yourself :) I can't wait to see it again and other films from David and Judith MacDougall.