Slumdog Millionaire

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His new film Slumdog Millionaire is again different. The film does contain pale and cheerless sequences but rather than waiting until the end for the ray of light, it weaves and bobs throughout the narrative so you don't forget it exists.

A young man, (Jamal Malik), is taken into police custody during an interval of the filming of the Indian version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionare." This kid was born and raised in the ...
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Slumdog Millionare, directed by Danny Boyle and based on a novel written by Indian novelist Vikus Swarup, is a film bursting with colour and energy. The images on screen are astonishingly beautiful amidst squalor and poverty. Throughout the film the camera moves quickly, runnning, and soaring, moving from side to side so that images are sometimes out of line and disorderly, Close up shots are always intimate. The focus is ... more

Manchester born Danny Boyle has certainly had a diverse career as a film director. In the 1990's he presented movie goers with his controversial and widely acclaimed film, Trainspotting which you could say made him famous as a director. Then followed Life Less Ordinary, a romantic comedy, followed by The Beach, a colourful portrait of stoners paradise. Then came along, 28 Days Later, a distressing vision of London being devastated by a rage virus and then Millions, a light hearted comedy drama, starring two boys who find a bag full of dosh and have to spend it before the currency changes to Euros. All very different genres but each bare Doyle's individual trademark. No matter how depressed and gloomy you feel while watching one of his films, you know there is always a colourful side and light will shine through.

His new film Slumdog Millionaire is again different. The film does contain pale and cheerless sequences but rather than waiting until the end for the ray of light, it weaves and bobs throughout the narrative so you don't forget it exists.

A young man, (Jamal Malik), is taken into police custody during an interval of the filming of the Indian version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionare." This kid was born and raised in the ghettoes of Mumbai so how on earth could he possible be able to answer all these questions and get the correct answers? He has never been educated and spent most of his life hustling to survive.

Two police officers viciously question him and use violence to make him talk. They are convinced he is a criminal. They want to know how a young kid who works in a call centre can be so close to winning the jackpot prize of 20 million rupees when lawyers and other professionals on the show can't come anywhere close. He has to be cheating. Having a clear conscience, Malik sits down with the police officer (Irfan Khan) and his story unfolds through a series of flashbacks..

Jamal and his older brother, Salim (Madhur Mittal) have lived in poverty most of their lives. They live in shanty towns built of garbage that has been discarded by other privileged members of society. During an anti-muslim raid, terror strikes and their mother is murdered leaving the two boys to struggle for themselves. They manage to survive on their wits and befriend an orphan teenage girl called Latika (Freida Pinto) with whom Jamal falls in love with.

They are picked up by a street hustler who runs a criminal orphanage and taken in a van to his hide-out. On arrival they see other kids through the window of the van and start to smile and clap their hands. I am not sure what sort of place they think they are being brought too but it turns out to be not the den of joy and happiness they first thought. Every day the kids are sent out to beg on the streets and then bring back their earnings to their benefactor. As Salim spots the danger signs he gets scared and together him and his brother escape but leave the girl behind.

Over the years the brothers survive in different ways. Jamal takes on odd jobs of which some are kosha and some are not. In contrast his brother sells his soul to the highest bidder and gets involved in violent crime.

Missing Latika, the love of his life, Jamal wants to return to Mumbai to look for her. Eventually they find her but not in the best of situations - she has been sold like a piece of meat to a rich man. The brothers never lose their optimism and don't give up on the idea that they will all be together one day.

Because of what life has thrown at Jamal he has had to be shrewd and perceptive. Stored in his head is a library of hellish chapters which he is capable of drawing on when needed, like appearing on the garish game show. As he sits in in the chair on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" every question thrown at him correlates to his life experiences. Not really caring about the prize money but more about whether Latika will watch the programme and see him, he suddenly becomes shocked at the fact that he is winning. The audience who watch him every night also become transfixed as they turn on their TVs as do the two who will decide on his fate, the programmes host and the police officer.

Summary
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Slumdog Millionare, directed by Danny Boyle and based on a novel written by Indian novelist Vikus Swarup, is a film bursting with colour and energy. The images on screen are astonishingly beautiful amidst squalor and poverty. Throughout the film the camera moves quickly, runnning, and soaring, moving from side to side so that images are sometimes out of line and disorderly, Close up shots are always intimate. The focus is on India in the past and present, a place of filth and deprivation as well as as a place of spiritual regeneration, a metempsychosis. At times, the film portrays great sadness and Boyle doesn't hide the dreadful conditions of which people live. There is tragedy but also happiness, humour and always a thread of optimism.

The very young actors who play the two brothers bring life, joy and energy to their roles. Young Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) has the sweetest face and deep down is a good boy although extremely mischevious. He has the most beautiful smile and you really do want to pick him up, swirl him round and giive him the biggest of hugs. He is totally endearing. The young Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) is a little different - not as cute but more cunning and boisterous - always ready for a scrap. Latika as a young girl is a bit of a dreamer - her tangled mop always unruly and her deep slanted eyes always staring into Jamil's eyes or away in the distance.

The choice of actors to play the boys and Latika as adults was spot on and each one fitted their roles like the smoothest of gloves. Dev Patel had only had a small role in the Channel 4 television drama series, Skins. He is a wonderful young actor; with his sad, brown eyes and enthusiastic smile, you can't help but love him. He has great presence with his fixed stare and rigid body, conveying nervousness but at the same time dignity and pride. I love the way he holds his head when answering the questions on the game show. He is so intense and very shy at the beginning but gradually he loosens up and gets a bit cheeky. Here we see the younger Kamil shining through and he is still that cheeky boy.You want him to win the money and and hope that he will find his true love.

For Freida Pinto this was her debut role and isn't she a true beauty? When she looks into his eyes there is such passion for her knight in shining armour who is always trying to free her from her shackels. On screen they are so charismatic, two very young and beautiful people.

Madhur Mittal is an actor I don't know anything about but he has such screen presence. There is something menacing in his eyes and his whole body breathes superiority and cockiness. When he was in one of his moods he really did turn into the devil and was quite scary. There was something definitely dark about his persona. A wonderful performance - I really loved his acting.

One of the scenes I find the most interesting and entertaining is when the wealthy, well spoken host tries to out wit the softly spoken kid form the slums. Here Boyle illustrates the class war within this framework. Being very much in love with himself, the game show host doesn't like the fact that the kid is popular with the audience so he starts to mock Jamal for being poor, from the slums, and only a tea boy in the call centre. You may think the host is middle class with his posh clothes and swanky talk but he isn't and later on towards the end of the film you will realise why he treats Jamal with contempt and mocks him for being a chaiwalah.There are lots of little snippets throughout the film which show different sides to Indian culture and class.

Final Thoughts
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I first saw Slumdog in December before it was released in the UK. This sometimes happens because in Warsaw some films hit the screens first. I am a keen film buff and in 2008 saw nearly all of the blockbusters and other films as well but only this film really caught my attention and knocked me for six. I remember coming out of the cinema with tears in my eyes and a pain in my heart and thinking that this was one hell of a movie - the best I have seen for a long, long time.

The night before the Oscars I was very excited because I so much wanted this film to walk away with the awards but for some reason I didn't think Danny Boyle would achieve this because Hollywood being what it is would want to give the top prizes to a home-grown movie. Well, they didn't and I was over the moon. But the same night I had a friend over to stay who is Asian and promotes Bollywood films in Warsaw. We had a very long converstaion about this film. Well, he lectured me and I listened and wriggled at the same time. He said that the film was only mediocre and there were better Bollywood films around. He also said that Dev Patel was a middle class kid with a middle class voice. Certainly not a voice from the Mumbai slums. He also told me that Indian film critics had criticised the film for glamorising poverty and not representing the subject authentically. Well, of course I disagreed with him and thought, what the heck is he on about.

So last week I went to one of the small independent cinemas to see the film again. As soon as I saw the colours on screen I was captivated once again. The music, cinematography, acting, everything about this film drew me into the world of these kids. I started off sitting upright on the seat but slowly, being so absorbed, I kept slipping further down the seat until I was nearly on the floor towards the end. Every time Jamal answered a question correctly I wanted to jump high in the air and shout, 'YES!' I kept asking myself, 'How did they manage to film the slum scenes?' - they are just so fantastic. The journey on the train through the countryside with the most dominant colours being blue, red, yellow and green is a wonderful piece of escapism. Such a kaleidoscope of beauty, depriavtion and colour. And the miusic of AR Rahman's soundtrack will blow you away. It is imaginative, original and evocative adding another layer which enhances the experience whilst totally complimenting the screen play and cinematography.

The second time round I loved the film more, came out of the theatre, blubbing and a heavy heart just as before. I still think my friend is totally wrong about this film except for one thing - and that is Dev's voice. After studying it closer this time, I would say it is rather middle class and not the voice of a boy from the slum but that is my only criticism and it is a very small one.

This is one of the best films I have ever seen. It is an absolute gem. It is a fairy story and you must treat it like one - don't go looking for realism. The film is a very accomplished piece of work and Danny and the gang deserve the trophy for best film because it was the BEST FILM! They also deserve all the other awards too.

Running Time 120 minutes
Certificate UK 15
(The certificate has not been given lightly and there are one or two scenes that some people might find disturbing).
Languages English/Hindi
*This review was first posted on Dooyoo, then Ciao.com. The review has been slightly altered since first posting*
 

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