Slumdog Reality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIzbwV7on6Q

Slumdog Millionaire is a favorite movie of mine. Not only is the film a beautiful piece of work with its colors and unique style, but it sends a very real message to the audience. A message that opens the eyes of the audience to severe poverty in India. The director does not slap you in the face with this message, instead it is done very subtly and beautifully. Boyle carefully chooses certain shots to show the poverty and desperation of the people of India. He depicts these people in a totally visual context, leaving out dialogue. Hopefully, as a result, this film has raised awareness about poverty around the world. An example of this deliberate scene selection would include an early portrayal of the Indian slums. The main characters, Salim and Jamal, are seen being chased away by the authorities. The film follows the lives of these two men, and in these early scenes they are young boys. As they are being chased by authorities the camera shoots from angles that subtly show the poverty. For example, they are running down a narrow street, and the camera angle shows not only the boys running, but a starving dog with flies surrounding it. The poverty of the slums are never the main focus of the scene, instead it is always apparent in the background, subtly exposing the extreme conditions to the audience. Another eye opening example of the carefully chosen scenes would be showing the young boys playing in a local water source. The scene has a light hearted feeling to it for character development, but at the same time it is showing the lifestyle and lack of cleanliness of the slums. All the mothers are washing clothes and bathing their children in mucky, dark water, which is held in a small pond-like area. Again, this shows the severe poverty, and the filth as a result, of the slums. Despite the film's feel good ending, I hope people take away with them the seriousness of the poverty that looms over India and fills the streets, and not only India, but other third world countires as well. Perhaps, they will be inspired by Boyle’s work and become more active in the global community.