Slumdog Millionaire (2008) is a moving story that reveals how life teaches you many things, no matter who you are or how you were raised. You just have to be open to learning.
Enter Jamal Malik, a young 18 yr old chai walla (tea server) who is being tortured to reveal something. You don't know what. The Director reveals that Jamal is a contestant on the Indian version of the show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire. As his torturers interview him, we learn little by little about his life from a baby until now. And what a life it was.
The other two main characters are Salim (his brother) and Latika, a girl they meet when little who weaves her way thru their lives.
The host of the show, famous Indian actor Anil Kapoor, seems to needle his contestant, played brilliantly by a younger Dev Patel, who is now quite a famous actor too. We learn Jamal is poor. He has his wits but no money at all, no formal education. But how is he doing so well on this game show? This reveals the caste system that, although officially outlawed in India, is still there. The poor are looked down upon and treated as lesser people. The host treats Jamal like he is less worthy and as if he shouldn't be there.
The Director Danny Boyle does a terrific job of revealing all the key moments in Jamal and Samir and Latika's lives. It all fits together with beautiful editing. The cinematography takes you there to the slums of Mumbai and Delhia. You feel the poverty, the desperation. But from Jamal, you feel his love for Latika thruout. His mission in his entire life is this girl, who becomes a beautiful young woman.
Like all families, he and his brother get into their arguments, and sometimes it seems too painful to watch. But that's life - it's not clean. Thru thick and thin, the brothers always come back to each other and risk so much for each other. It is this touch and go interaction that is central to Slumdog.
The acting makes this a great movie too, from the little kid versions of the characters up thru their young adults. At the end, we see the typical Indian dancing scene, which if you watch Indian movies, you know is a standard. That may be the only time you will smile in this movie where you mostly cry and cheer on the good guys.
Slumdog Millionaire is a terrific must-see film. It excels on all levels. Enjoy!
Enter Jamal Malik, a young 18 yr old chai walla (tea server) who is being tortured to reveal something. You don't know what. The Director reveals that Jamal is a contestant on the Indian version of the show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire. As his torturers interview him, we learn little by little about his life from a baby until now. And what a life it was.
The other two main characters are Salim (his brother) and Latika, a girl they meet when little who weaves her way thru their lives.
The host of the show, famous Indian actor Anil Kapoor, seems to needle his contestant, played brilliantly by a younger Dev Patel, who is now quite a famous actor too. We learn Jamal is poor. He has his wits but no money at all, no formal education. But how is he doing so well on this game show? This reveals the caste system that, although officially outlawed in India, is still there. The poor are looked down upon and treated as lesser people. The host treats Jamal like he is less worthy and as if he shouldn't be there.
The Director Danny Boyle does a terrific job of revealing all the key moments in Jamal and Samir and Latika's lives. It all fits together with beautiful editing. The cinematography takes you there to the slums of Mumbai and Delhia. You feel the poverty, the desperation. But from Jamal, you feel his love for Latika thruout. His mission in his entire life is this girl, who becomes a beautiful young woman.
Like all families, he and his brother get into their arguments, and sometimes it seems too painful to watch. But that's life - it's not clean. Thru thick and thin, the brothers always come back to each other and risk so much for each other. It is this touch and go interaction that is central to Slumdog.
The acting makes this a great movie too, from the little kid versions of the characters up thru their young adults. At the end, we see the typical Indian dancing scene, which if you watch Indian movies, you know is a standard. That may be the only time you will smile in this movie where you mostly cry and cheer on the good guys.
Slumdog Millionaire is a terrific must-see film. It excels on all levels. Enjoy!