When it comes to rags to riches stories you either love them or hate them; some are just verging on nauseatingly sweet while others just strike the right balance between real-life grit and the hopelessly optimistic, Slumdog Millionaire falls into the latter category, thanks to the directorial expertise of Danny Boyle (Transpotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine ) and Loveleen Tandan.
The film revolves around 18-year-old Jamal (Dev Patel ) from the Mumbai slums and his incredible win on India’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. However, not everyone believes that a slum kid with no education and a criminal history could get so far on the popular show without cheating. How could he possibly know whose face is on a $100 dollar bill or where in the world Cambridge Circus is located? Is the answer a ) luck, b ) love, c ) passion, or d ) destiny.
In the opening scene the audience is immediately brought to a holding area where a police officer is torturing Jamal determined to get to the bottom of his seemingly impossible gameshow success. It is by the means of interrogation that Jamal explains how his life experiences have taught him the answers thereby helping him to get to one question away from the 20 million rupees jackpot.
Flashbacks help to piece together Jamal’s harsh childhood where every day is a struggle for survival. When his mother is murdered during an anti-Muslim riot Jamal, his older brother Salim (with whom there is a constant love/hate relationship ), and their friend Latika are left to comb the trash heaps of Mumbai until one day they are taken in by Maman, a Fagan-like character who forces the children to beg on the streets. After escaping Muman’s clutches the two brothers learn to eke out an existence elsewhere, however, Jamal’s unwavering love for Latika brings him back to Mumbai in search of her. It is this epic love story and his rivalry with his criminal brother that forms the backbone of the film.
OK, so it might sound like the most unbelievable and soppiest plot ever but it works, it really does, because it is still kept grounded in reality by Boyle’s depiction of the vast, filthy, and teeming slums, however, he is also careful to show the varied and beautiful colour of India. Jamal also becomes a kind of hero to millions who dream of a better life and who come in droves to watch the final.
It’s no wonder that Slumdog Millionaire was a big winner at this year’s Golden Globes scooping an award for Best Director, Best Motion Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score. It’s certainly one not to be missed.
Verdict: 5/5
