Slumdog Millionaire -- discussion (might have spoilers)

[hyphenate]

I saw this film this week and would love to discuss it, if anyone else does. I found it fascinating, but I was disturbed by several scenes in it, as well as how real it was supposed to be. So, if anyone wants to talk about it, would love to hear from you.

[sfpcjock]

1. Sounds good. CNN had a piece on it

...that slum outside Mumbai. Wow. I think that's where Bushit had us headed...

[Auggie]

2. I don't know the true story, but having seen "Born Into Brothels"

it's entirely plausible (BIB was a documentary).

[mentalsolstice]

3. I dated a guy who traveled to India a lot for business

Mind you this was back in the mid-80s, and I don't know where in India he traveled to, but I do remember it was a big city. Unfortunately, what he told me about the begging children seems to be truly replicated in the film. He told me about how dozens of children would often crowd around him, begging and grabbing at his pockets, and many of them had their limbs twisted off or were blinded, because more sympathy and thus more money would be bestowed upon them. He loved traveling to India, however, he saw some pretty grim things while there.

[hyphenate]

4. How awful

That's what I was afraid was the truth. The scene that disturbed me the most was when that bastard blinded the child. We might have poverty in our country, but the conditions depicted in the movie made me realize that even the poor in our country have things a thousand times better than in that country. Very sad, really. And we have to wonder why conditions have never gotten better. I realize they have a caste system, and that some of their religious beliefs prevent elevating some from poverty, but there is such a thing as human decency and compassion, and I guess I've been isolated from a lot of that for a long time.

I know this is only a movie, and that the small amount of violence and graphic realism is lower than what I might see in a documentary, but I truthfully couldn't take a while lot more anyhow. I don't see a lot of movies because of how I react nowadays to violence, and only see films with minimal blood and gore, unless it's a fantasy, like the Narnia films. Other than those, I pretty much stick to comedies and dramas, so I won't be seeing some major films as a result. I guess I'll stick to TV instead. Slumdog Millionare was the first film I've seen in awhile that truly moved me on a deep level.

[JCMach1]

11. Stories like this are quite common in India

some of it is obviously urban legend... However, the reality is that horrific things like this do actually happen there...

There are also numerous mythical references...

The protagonist is not physically blinded, but he is blinded in other ways by his experiences.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. SPOILER

Someone please explain to me the scene with the painted blue archer.

During the riot where the Hindus were beating/burning the Muslims.

Why was there a painted dude with a bow?

It was very much like a Grimm Bros. fairy tale, but with a happy ending. The "King of Beggars" guy in particular reminded me of an evil character from a fairy tale, coming on smooth like the kids' savior, and then, his secret revealed.

[JI7]

7. the painted dude was dressed up as one of the Gods

i saw that a few times in india. kids dressed up as one of the gods. it might be a way of trying to get money.

[hyphenate]

8. Is it Rama?

I've seen depictions of Rama as painted blue and with a quiver and bow. His going up against Ravana is acelebrated myth, IIRC.

[JI7]

10. yes, it was rama

[JI7]

6. yes, the slums are real as are the begging children

kids are taken advantage of but i'm not sure how much that goes on in the slums. i know it goes on in some other crappy areas of india.

the hindu attacks on muslims is real also.

when i went to india we got off at the airport in mumbai and beggers came by as soon as we got off. the better off indians there told us not to give anything to the beggers and said they were con artists.

[crimsonblue]

9. horrible movie...

If I wanted to see slum porn, I'd drive out to the outskirts of town.

[JCMach1]

12. It's not porn, it's reality...

If anything, the story is rather sugar-coated...

I will tell you one heartbreaking story from my visit to Kathmandu this Fall. I was coming back to my hotel via rickshaw. Sometimes, little beggar (homeless) boys will help them push along in hopes of getting a tip. This kid was not older than about 6. He as dirty from head to toe. As I stepped-off, I paid the driver and slipped the boy what amounted to a big tip for Nepal. He reaked of glue and his hands were sticky with it. But, at least, he could eat for several weeks.

As those who have been to India as well, you will know that this kind of thing is as common as chips...