8th March, 2009
RENEE RUTHERFURD
Slumdog Millionaire (MA15+)
In A Word: Confronting
|
AT HOME AMONG INDIA'S POOR: Ayush Mahesh Khedekar as the youngest Jamal, Rubiana Ali as youngest Latika and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail as youngest Salim in Slumdog Millionaire.
"Don't go expecting a music and dance-filled salute to Bollywood; 'Slumdog Millionaire' is an exploration of the daily struggles of those on the lowest levels of society and the prejudice that follows them throughout their lives."
|
Amidst the tumult of the slums of Mumbai, the heat, the smells, the caste system, the religious violence, and the exploitation of the weak by the strong, is the universal story of boy meets girl...boy loses girl...boy goes on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.
We meet Jamal, an 18-year-old office worker at a local police station being “questioned” about his correct answers on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. The assumption that he has been cheating and the demand for answers from the local police chief give Jamal the opportunity to tell the story of his life and ultimately his reason for applying to be on Millionaire.
The rollercoaster ride that follows is an at times humorous, often violent, and heart-wrenching story of two young brothers, Salim and Jamal, who along with their friend Latika are forced from their homes after a brutal attack on their Muslim community.
Jamal, Salim and Latika are each portrayed by three children of varying ages. This in no way detracts from the story and I found myself, in just a few moments, stunned by their audacity, laughing at their quick wittedness and grieving for their loss of innocence (although I must admit that I watched a number of the scenes through my fingers).
Don't go expecting a music and dance-filled salute to Bollywood; Slumdog Millionaire is an exploration of the daily struggles of those on the lowest levels of society and the prejudice that follows them throughout their lives.
It is a beautifully portrayed, poignant movie that is well worth a viewing and stays with you long after you walk out of the cinema.
(I should note also that there has been controversy regarding the ability of the youngest actors - Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail who plays Salim as a child, and Rubiana Ali who plays Latika as a child - to readjust to life in a community with little sanitation and sporadic electricity. Director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson have expressed their determination to ensure that the families have a better quality of life and that the children continue to have opportunities in life. While this is a noble sentiment, it is much easier said than done and that the commitment will need to be long term.)
SEE
THE SIGHT ON THE SCREEN ARCHIVES FOR MORE... |
