We Love Talking
If you have something
you want us to talk about
send us an email.
Editorial
Slumdog Millionaire, Woodside
This is, in many ways, a ‘feel-good’ movie: it is heartfelt, funny and, above all, romantic, though it doesn't shy away from Mumbai's darker side, says WeLoveWatford.co.uk reader, James Brown.
In a similar way to Danny Boyle’s 2004 release ‘Millions’, perhaps the most significant theme of the film is an unwavering belief in fate. It is romantic to the point of being unrealistic, and its representation of both the Mumbai police and the game show could certainly be accused of a lack of authenticity.
But this is kind of the point. It is fatalism and not realism deciding how this story develops. Indeed with much of the film being beautifully shot with a golden glow, the story has rather a dream-like quality. ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is both endearing and engaging, and it’s an original and memorable addition to Danny Boyle's eclectic directorial CV.
In the film, based on the novel 'Q & A' by Vikas Swarup, Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old growing up in the slums of Mumbai, finds himself winning big on the Indian version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire', (pictured) with an uncanny knowledge of American currency and first-class cricket.
So uncanny in fact that he is accused in no uncertain terms of being India's answer to Major Charles Ingram. But Jamal is neither a cheat nor a genius, he knows each answer because of a specific childhood event, setting the scene for a series of flashbacks showing us the unlikely story of how he ended up on the show.
A pivotal moment comes when Malik meets another orphan, Latika, and it is his love for her that propels his actions throughout the film.
Indeed it is Latika, rather than money, that is the motivation for his appearance on the show. His brother Salim, on the other hand, chases the Rupee from an early age, selling one of Malik's most prized possessions. The contrasting fortunes of the two brothers who choose different paths forms one of the main themes of the film, and represents its romantic ideals.
Coming out of the cinema it’s impossible not to also see this as a ‘feel-bad’ movie. Central characters (all brilliantly played) suffer a tragic upbringing, and the harsher scenes have even prompted accusations of 'poverty porn'.
However, the film does not portray poverty voyeuristically or, indeed, ignore it, and in doing so it draws attention to Mumbai’s problems. Indeed several reports on the issue – such as one estimating that the city has 300,000 child beggars – have appeared since the film’s release.