Here’s the big money line:
… in order to interject hope into Jamel’s miserable existence the basic concepts of Hinduism had to be jettisoned in favor of a more Westernized, Judeo-Christian paradigm.
I’m working on a post that will offer an explanation as to why I don’t like Slumdog. (I’m apparently one of the few critics doesn’t.) I’ll share it with you later this week, assuming I can find the time to sum up my thoughts.
isn’t jamal muslim? i thought that’s what was being implied in the scene in which rama appears to him.
I’m so glad you don’t like Slumdog Millionaire. I think it’s an overrated piece based on a mediocre love story set in a glamorized version of extreme poverty. I look forward to seeing your thoughts.
Intriguing indeed! Looking forward to your post. 🙂
I’m excited to read it. “Slumdog” left me with a weird feeling by the conclusion. Happiness caused by the inspirational outcome of Jamal’s endeavors was not a feeling I had. There was a disconnect and I don’t know why!
Jeffrey, I look forward to reading your thoughts on Slumdog. I’m glad I’m not the only one that sensed a disconnect as many of my fellow audience members applauded. I just posted a brief review here.
I don’t know, maybe I’m just drinking the Slumdog kool-aid. I thought it was a very stirring, powerful fable and, in my column, named it the second-best movie of the year (under WALL-E). But it’s definitely a film where you have to be able to go along for the ride. If someone was disconnected from the start and personally can’t find an entry point, they’re not going to buy the film. And I’m cool with that–I personally thought “Benjamin Button” was horribly overrated, although I can understand why many people were moved by it (maybe it’s that “Synecdoche, New York” tackles similar themes much better, instead of going turning into “Forrest Gramp.”)
When I get around to blogging about why I think Slumdog Millionaire is horribly overrated, I’m going to mention the scene in Wings of Desire, at the end of the movie, where Damiel drinks the cup of coffee. Imagine if that scene had been interrupted by a flashback of the conversation with Peter Falk’s character about the delights of drinking coffee. I’m glad Wenders doesn’t assume his viewers are dumb.
For me, the film was very stirring. I don’t see a ton of fatalism in Western, Judeo-Christian values as I did in Slumdog. That key phrase in the film, “It is written” permeates popular Islamic theology, though. I got a taste of this in Pakistan at the end of 2005 while riding in a taxi with a driver willing to risk his death (and the lives of many passengers) as he made crazy passes of other cars. I understand that the phrase it’s good for them to repeat and reassure themselves that God won’t take them before their time is “En-sh’Allah” or “If God wills…”
Interested to hear your thoughts, Jeffrey. I liked the film, and thought it skated along the line between realism and sentimentality — though I guess I could see the argument that it slipped into the latter from time to time.
I too thought Jamal was Muslim, which I thought was the point of the whole rama/slaughter scene. Maybe I missed something. But I’m definitely curious to see how the worldviews played out, since Scots director Danny Boyle seemed almost to lose himself in the culture of the film and yet, the film didn’t seem entirely Indian.
By the way…and I guess this cuts to the heart of what Mike was discussing — is it only Christianity (and actually mainly Reformed Christianity) that believes in the “it is written”?
I’m no expert on the ins & outs of Islam or Hinduism and assumed this was very likely part of their beliefs, too. I think the answer to this question is the fulcrum that Mike’s entire argument is balancing on. Gotta admit, the believer in me is cheering inside to imagine an Indian film with a Christian worldview.
The movie ‘slumdog millionaire’ pictures India as very poor and third world country. There are instance where abusive and dirty language is used by prostitutes (wonder,how come Indian sensor board certified the movie). There are scenes which mislead audience.
THE BELOW TEXT IS COPIED FROM http://www.hindujagruti.org
There is a question asked in the game show of the movie ‘In depictions of Lord Rama’ he is famously holding what in right Hand?’ Jamal a character in movie remembers riots happened in his childhood. The film shows that Hindus attacks Muslim area shouting ‘They’re Muslims, get them’. Jamal’s mother was killed by a Hindu after she was hit by a rod on the head. Jamal and his brother Salim ran away after seeing their mother killed. While running they reach a street in which they see a child dressed like Lord Rama. Jamal watches him carefully and sees a bow in his right hand and thinking that he will be killed by the person dressed as Lord Ram, he goes by a different route. This child looks horrible. The facial expressions and the pose taken by child dressed like Lord Rama is denigrating to the religious sentiments of Hindus. This movie can create communal disharmony. So it needs to be banned.
for more read this article on -http://www.hindujagruti.org/denigrations/protestslumdog