Motion Picture- Slumdog Millionaire

Bibliographic information:

Colson, S. (Producer), & Boyle, D., Tandan, L. (Directors).  (2008). Slumdog Millionaire. United Kingdom: Celador Films.

Plot Summary:

Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a contestant on a game show where he has answered all of the questions but one to win a 20 million rupee prize.  Everyone thinks that he is cheating because he is young and uneducated.  The police take him in for questioning and he reveals stories from his life which would explain how he knew the answers.  Jamal and his brother Salim had been orphaned and were forced to live on the streets.  They are joined by Latika, another street kid and the trio find themselves rescued by an fake orphanage.  The orphanage proves to be nothing more that a place where children are maimed so that they become better beggars.  Salim engineers the escape of the three, but at the last minute causes Latika to be re-caught. 

             Jamal and Salim go to another part of India and run all kinds of schemes to stay alive.  Jamal insists that they go back to get Latika.  They go back, find her and end up killing the man who ran the fake orphanage.  Salim becomes a tough guy working for a gang boss and steals Latika away from Jamal.  Salim and Jamal have a falling out and they go separate ways, Jamal still wishing to be with Latika. 

            A number of years elapse and Jamal finds work with a call service center and looks up his brother’s number.  He ends up meeting with his brother, who is now an under boss in a gang, and inquires after Latika.  Salim lets Jamal know that Latika is now the kept lady of the head gang boss.  Jamal goes after her to try to convince her that he loves her.  She tells him it is dangerous and she wants nothing to do with him, but later changes her mind and attempts to meet him.  She is whisked away by the gangsters and Jamal has no idea how to contact her, so he goes on a quiz show that he knows she will watch to try and contact her.   

Critical Evaluation:

            The film has a number of sequences which do not go in chronological order, but these are in no way confusing.   The story is great and has many points that are genuinely emotional for a viewer.   It is almost Dickensian in several ways, and also has elements of a Horatio Alger story, all set in present-day India. The story shows a number of aspects of Indian culture to viewers who may not be familiar with life in South Asia.  The acting was fairly good and this film exposes South Asian actors to an international audience.  The three main characters are played by different actors because the different ages at which they are portrayed (see additional website for a full list).  There are a number of scenes which contain violence and child abuse; these might be cause for a challenge.  The film won a number of awards including eight Academy Awards (2009), including the award for Best Picture.  The soundtrack is also a strong point of the film, it features a number of South Asian artist and fits the action of the film just right.
Author Information:
The film is based on the book Q&A by Vikas Swarup. 

Viewers Annotation:

Jamal Malik, a street kid, becomes a contestant on a game show in hopes of finding his childhood love.  Each of the answers reveals something about his poverty stricken childhood. 

Genre:

Romantic Drama

Curriculum Ties:

N/A

Interest Age:

15+
Filmtalking Ideas:
1.  Discuss the social prejudice that Jamal faces.
2.  Speak about the religious tension which is a shaping force in the story.
3.  Center a talk on the types of things the street kids must do to survive. 

Challenge Issues:

Sex/Violence/Abuse Rated R

Challenge Defense Ideas:

1.  Watch the film.

2.  Be Familiar with the policy of the ALA and your institution.

3. Make a note of the contents of the work and how they fall in with the collection development policy of your institution and the standpoint of the ALA. 

4. Gain an awareness of the awards, reviews, and criticisms of the film.

5. Know the process for materials challenges at your library.

Why did you include this film? :

I had heard a great deal about the film and have an interest in India; the fact that this film is about older teens/young adults makes it attractive for that age grouping. 

Film Website/Cast and Crew Information:

http://www.slumdogmillionairemovie.co.uk/