I wasn’t even deterred by my grandma, who had no problem telling me once she found out I wanted to see the movie that it was the “worst movie of the year.” I love her dearly – but guess what, grandma? Slumdog [image-1]
My grandma’s complaint was that the movie showed her “more than she ever wanted to know” about poverty in India. This is exactly why I loved the movie, about a “slumdog” from the streets of India who ends up on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Boyle creates a fantastical yet hauntingly realistic world for his main character, showing the gritty underbelly of Mumbai while simultaneously managing to create a strikingly beautiful film.
The film comes at a time when international tensions are exploding and, as stubborn as certain 80-year-old individuals may be, people need to know what’s going on. Through a chilling look at the life of one poverty-stricken Indian orphan, Slumdog explores both the atrocities and the graces of humanity.
The Golden Globes are well-deserved, and Boyle and the cast should be congratulated for not only creating a spectacular film, but for promoting international awareness of places like India, where real slumdogs rarely get chances at a million dollars.
