I recently watched the Hindi film "Slumdog Millionaire" and am not sure that it will be possible to watch a better movie the rest of the year. I know that the movie caught a lot of flack, mainly due to its title and its portrayal of the poorer classes of India, but I think that these critics have overlooked the true intentions of the writers, director, and actors.
Yes, it did portray a darker side of India; it did dwell, it seems, on the negative aspects of the plight of the people, but I think if one only dwells on these in their whole, then the true details tend to get muddled in the flow of the movie.
Jamal, in all his plight, was able to show forth three things that most people in much better circumstances have great difficulty expressing: true joy, true forgiveness, and true peace.
True joy: When Jamal jumped into the cess pool with the intent of getting to his hero for an autograph, he showed a determination like no other. But what caught my attention was when after he had the autograph, even though he was standing in one of the filthiest slums in India, and he was completely covered in human feces, all he saw was that his goal had been accomplished. Regardless of his circumstances and surroundings, Jamal proved that true joy comes from inside.
True forgiveness: Even though he told his brother that he would never forgive him for what he did to the girl, Jamal seemed to display a perpetual forgiving heart throughout the film to all those who had wronged him. His eyes were always looking ahead at what could be accomplished, not at what had been.
True peace: In line with his joy and forgiveness, Jamal displayed a peace that no one could take away. From dealing with the horrible living conditions, to facing police brutality, experiencing the downright bigotry of the television host, to enduring his brother's betrayals, we never seem to see Jamal quit or show any lack of desire.
What most people should take away from this movie isn't the depravity and poverty that are shown, but rather the positive things that someone in that situation can garner from his situation. Like the old saying goes "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Christian Jentz is a world traveler who has visited nine different countries, and has lived in three. His travels have taken him to seven countries in Europe, one in North America, and one in Asia. He is an avid film buff, and through his travels has developed a love for foreign movies. He has written several articles, as well as contributed to several blogs for http://www.bluecowboyfilms.com/catalog/item/7281263/7693492.htm. He speaks English, Spanish, and Chinese. He currently resides in China where he is an English instructor at the University of Datong.
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