Slumdog Millionaire

[poliphilo]

The story is traditional fairytale- a carcass on which to hang a slap-bang-whallop impression of modern India. The characters are types- he's the widow's son, she's the princess in the castle. Alternatively he's Nicholas Nickleby and she's Madeline Bray; neither of them  particularly interesting in themselves. The character who does interest me is the older brother- who plays both good and evil angel- alternately thwarting and rescuing the lovers.  If they were always destined to find one another, then he's the agent of destiny- and his final words- as he dies in a bathtub full of rupees having saved them one last time- more than hint at something metaphysical going on.

It's a feelgood movie that never glosses over the horrors it goes streaking through. I love the energy- and the colour. And what a stroke of brilliance to regognise- and use- the mythic structure of the TV gameshow.

Comments

[shullie.livejournal.com]

I have not seen the film, not read the book, but if you can get it as read on Radio 4, ( it was a ten part Woman's Hour drama serial in late July/early August 2007 and then repeated it between Christmas and New Year 2008 - late at night.) I would highly recommend that.apparently it is longer available to listen to online at the BBc, though i think you may find it elsewhere.

The book/audio book has I think a different kind of ending than the film, and many more twists and turns.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. I hadn't realised the movie was based on a book.