Slumdog Millionaire

This blog was posted at http://archangel-025.blogspot.com/2009/02/slumdog-millionaire.html last February 9, 2009.

This is really one of the best movies that I have watched, it has deep meaning, fresh story, something we could relate to and really shows us what reality is in life. Very few movies or stories can reach to what this film has told, something that is not filled with special effects, nothing fancy but something that has meaning.

The film is about the amazing story of Jamal, an 18 year old teenager, his life in the slums and the biggest day in his life. He is one question away from winning 20 million rupees from India's version of the game show "Who wants to be a millionaire" and as the show pauses for the next day, Jamal is arrested because of suspicion of cheating. Upon interrogation, Jamal tells his story and how his experiences led him to the game show, from childhood, to the last minute of the game.

He was born in the slums together with his brother Salem on one of India's poorest places. He lost his mother at a young age, and the two start to live life on their own, doing whatever they can to survive, at this instant Jamal also met Latika. The two had a hard life, they were taken to be part of a gangster though they managed to escape, Latika was left behind. A few years later, the siblings return to save Latika, and Salem managed to kill the leader that once held them captive. Salem then joined another gang and took Latika for himself, leaving Jamal. A few years passed and Jamal found Latika, still captive with Salem as one of the gang members. Jamal then joins the game show not to win, but he simply thought Latika would watch.

Every question in the game was answered with the help of his experiences that he remembered so vividly. He answers the last question and won the prize, but his victory was not of money but of Latika, being saved from the gangster with the help of his brother who sacrificed his own life.

A very very splendid film, something that all of us can relate to.