Jamal was a boy from the streets of Bombay, a 'slumdog' with no right to prospects or happy endings. But he's got something going for him - a destiny that was written before his mother was murdered, before he ran away from lecherous henchmen, before he became a Dickensian urchin hustler.
Now Jamal is clever, in love and confounding the host of India's Who Wants to be a Millionnaire by continuing to get the answers right as he accumulates a fortune he doesn't want. Is he cheating, a genius or just riding his luck?
Slumdog is the best film I've seen for five years. Director Danny Boyle is back to his Trainspotting best mixing pulsating (and, at times repulsive) action, a dash of Bollywood theatrics and a lovable lead character. It won all the Oscars and clever people are fond of knocking these sorts of films, but this is an exhilarating feast well worth the fuss.
Switching between three eras by matching particular events in Jamal's life to quiz questions he is forced to answer, Boyle generates pace and genuine tension throughout. The complexity of his relationship to older brother Salim, himself a classic angel-devil paradox, is fascinating and keeps you guessing until the very end. If you're not squirming in your seat in the final ten minutes you aren't human.
Three observations stayed with me. Firstly, one can't help admire Jamal and Salim because they are always running, literally and figuratively, away from the present towards an unknown which, whatever it is, has to be a better place. Two, you can't beat a love story. And three, it's hard to deny the delicious drama of the Who Wants to be a Millionaire franchise format. Anil Kapoor, who in real life is a lot more famous than Eddie McGuire (hard to believe, but true), is absolutely perfect as the egotistical host.
Slumdog is even better the second time around, and it deserves to be seen on the big screen.
"The climax was so tense I actually fell off my chair," said Marc Fennell from Triple J. "And the ending had me in tears. Tears of joy."
And from Port Fairy Film Society member Matt Neal from the Warrnambool Standard: "It's a touching tale told with boundless energy, moments of charming humour and an almost startling directness. You'd have to be stone-hearted not to be moved by Jamal'sCinderella-esque story."
"Compelling and moving, bitter sweet and haunting, it's one of the best films of the year, any year," wrote Andrew L Urban from Urban Cinefiles.
Slumdog Millionaire screens this Friday 19th June at 7.30pm at Port Fairy Cinema in Bank Street. Memberships available at the door with free tea and coffee provided.
Click below to watch preview:
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