Review of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) by Jacqueline G — 02 Nov 2013

Slumdog Millionaire Review.

I watched this movie for my World Religions class. After some initial confusion at the very beginning of the movie, the story started to take shape. The movie goes between present time and flashbacks into childhood. Through the flashbacks we see the life story of Jamal. Jamal was arrested on suspicion of cheating on a game show. During his interrogation at the police station of how he knew the answers to the questions, we are given Jamal's history. Every question on the show had a connection to some point in Jamal's life that allowed him to answer the question correctly. We see his mother die and how Jamal and his broth Samil survive into adulthood. Throughout the story is the back-story of the girl Jamal loves, Latika. We see how they meet, how they are separated and his search to find her. He loves her from the time they meet and that is the one constant in his life. In the end, the game show is won and the girl is his. This is a touching story and also disturbing as you realize that what is being shown on the screen has some truth to what really happens in this part of the world. Foreign countries usually hold some beauty and awe to us and India is not an exception because we are always shown only the beautiful and awe inspiring sites. This movie delves deeper into the reality of what most Indian people see and live through on a daily basis. It will touch your soul if you are inclined to let it do so.

As stated previously, this movie was an assignment for World Religions class. I was to find a connection between this movie and our study of the Hindu religion. I did not find that connection. Throughout the movie there was not much mention of religion. During the game show, there was a religious question regarding the God Ra. Other than that there was the time when Salim was doing his morning prayers. In the scene he kneels and says, "Forgive me Father for I have sinned." This took me by surprise, as this is something that I would say as a child after entering the confessional at Catholic Church. The only other religious or spiritual aspect of the movie was in the beginning and the ending. At the beginning is a question, "Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it? A. He Cheated. B. He's lucky. C. He's a genius. D. It is written." At the end of the movie you are given the answer. He wins because it is written. Based on this concept, as you watch the movie with this in mind you can see how all the events that took place had to take place in order for Jamal to get to the point we see him at in the movie. Without a vast understanding of the Hindu religion, it is hard for me to make the connection all of this has with my class. I like the concept that it was written and pre-destined for him to have all of the trials and tribulations to prove his love for Latika was real and that they were meant to be together. That is not religion that is romance.