Slumdog Millionaire

On the loooong flight back from Hong Kong, I couldn't resist watching a couple of movies (even though I knew I should be avoiding impending jet lag and sleeping!) so I finally got round to watching Slumdog Millionaire, the award winning film about a boy raised in the slums of India who won Who wants to be a millionaire.

As with all high profile movies, I was reserving judgement as they never quite live up to the hype. This one is no exception. Admittedly, it's a brilliant film, well shot, excellent acting and gritty storyline. It grabbed my attention and had me biting my nails with anticipation in parts, but it wasn't the jaw dropping film I was hearing about. The film certainly does the job in opening the west's eyes to the poverty, discrimination and hardship of those living in the slums of India. There's also a certain irony in the sense of art imitating life, with the younger cast members of the film genuinely coming from the Indian slums and being housed in proper accommodation after a public outcry post-awards ceremony trip.

Without giving the plot away, I'd say this isn't the feel good movie it's touted to be. Yes, there is a happy ending, but I was still left feeling a black void knowing that the main characters went through such painful and hard childhoods... something I'm sure many an Indian child experiences routinely. Definitely worth watching however. Thumbs up.