Movie Review: Slumdog Millionaire

Starring: Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan, Anil Kapoor, Madhur Mittal
Director: Danny Boyle
Rating: A

"You think I don’t wake up every morning wishing I didn’t know the answer to that question?"

If life can be summarised as a series of defining moments, Jamal, the hero of Slumdog Millionaire, is re-living them all from the hot-seat on the Indian version of "Who wants to be a millionaire?" Jamal is an orphaned street kid from Mumbai who is taken in for questioning because the authorities suspect he is cheating on the popular game show. The police officers demand an explanation from Jamal: how could a "slumdog" know any of these answers?
Such is the clever formula of the film: The game show is used as a platform for Jamal's story. The story jumps back and forth between the interrogation room and Jamal's flashbacks. Each game show question is linked to a tale from Jamal's past - sometimes a hilarious memory, but for the most part a tragic and painful one. The tales revolve around the three children - Jamal, his older brother, Salim, and Latika, Jamal's childhood sweetheart. Theirs is a story of poverty, abuse and children having to grow up too fast. Each flashback explains, little by little, the circumstances that lead Jamal to his game show appearance.

I became attached to the characters very quickly and easily - I could see each unique perspective and could feel the anguish and confusion when confronted with every challenge. The complex relationship between Jamal and his brother is particularly brilliant - you want to love and hate Salim at the same time as he is alternately protective and destructive towards Jamal. The performances are superb - especially given that the cast is made up of children!

At the film's heart is it's message of relentless optimism, regardless of the chaos and ugliness that threatens all around. Despite the harrowing backdrop of Jamal's upbringing, he believes in destiny and happy ("Bollywood") endings. Although surrounded by corruption, he never allows himself to be corrupted. The slumdog is also the underdog, and audiences want to follow him and want him to succeed (this goes for the gameshow audience in the film and the film audience). He is driven by a determinism that withstands heartbreaking and even violent setbacks.

A beautiful, memorable film - not always for the faint hearted, but a shining example of triumph in adversity.