You don't have to be a genius to have great knowledge

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2009)

Jamal Malik, who is played by Dev Patel in the movie Slumdog Millionaire, is just one question away from wining a million rupees, on the popular game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. A young man, who grew up in much hard times in Mumbai India, has just found himself in a tuff situation again, being one question away from becoming a millionaire. Jamal Malik, a former street child along with Salim played by Rubina Ali, and Latika, played by Freida Pinto has dealt with a lot growing up and is now faced with the opportunity of a life time, but what will happen? Though out the movie we understand what has happened to our young contestant. The movie opens with Jamal being interrogated by an Indian police officer, asking how he knew all the answers to the questions, because it seems unlikely for a slumdog to have the knowledge to win such a show. Is it because (A) he is cheating, (B) he is smart, (C) he is lucky, or (D) it is written. The Police inspector played by Irrfan Khan proceeds to review the show with Jamal, only to find out that for almost every question he has a life experience that has thought him the answer. We proceed to learn more about this young mans situation though a serious of flash backs he has while being interrogated. These flash backs show us details of his childhood which include scenes of the death of his mother during an anti-Muslim violence raid, how Salim becomes his big brother and the relationship that they have, and how Latika and Jamal become destined to be together. We get to see how the three of them struggled for food and money and how they went about obtaining such things. We gain an understanding of the relationship with Latika and the love that Jamal has for her. Slumdog Millionaire shows us that you do not have to be a genius to have great knowledge.
Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Simon Beaufoy, this movie was an adaptation of the novel Q & A, by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It was set and filmed in India. The director use of color and lighting was extraordinary in this film. Bright colors showed some of the uniqueness of the film as well as the lighting. The lighting in the film gave an audience member an understanding of the situation and played well with the emotions of the film. One of my favorite uses of color was when Latika is standing within the train station trying to find Jamal and she is wearing a bright yellow head scarf which brings light to her.
Often times we watch shows and wonder if we could do what that contestant is doing, never truly understanding what that person has gone though or how the came to know the answers. Slumdog Millionaire shows us that you don't have to be a genius to get everything that you want; just understanding what one has gone though can be an even greater life lesson.