Blog 7

          A few weeks ago we had watched Slumdog Millionaire, which I had really enjoyed. In the movie, Jamal Malik is a contestant on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, but is arrested for suspicion of cheating. based on Jamal's orphan life, the police believe that he should not know the answers at all, from lack of education, and accuse him for cheating. Throughout the story though, Jamal recalls a series of flashbacks, one for each question, showing how he knows these correct answers because he was a street kid.
         After being orphaned at a young age, Jamal and his older brother Salim are left to live on the streets of Mumbai. They come across another street girl in their slum named Latika and they roam the streets together. Later, the "three musketeers" come across a gang leader, who takes them in and tricks them into becoming beggars for his own benefits. After spending some time in the shelter the gang leader, Mamann, had created for them and many other children, Salim learns that in order to gain more money, Mamann was purposely blinding some of the other children in the shelter so that when they went begging, and Jamal was next. Learning this, Salim, Jamal and Latika escape from the shelter onto a train, but Latika was left behind. Upon finding her again years later, the brothers learn that she has become a prostitute instead of his beggar. Salim and Jamal rescue Latika for the first time, but Salim decides her want Latika for himself, telling Jamal to leave them alone, never seeing either of them again.
         Jamal has grown up on his own now, and yet again seeks to find Latika. He finds his brother, but upon finding him, Latika is not there. Salim tells his younger brother that Latika is now like property to another gang leader named Javed, and that she lives and serves him. Oddly enough, with the help of someone who had done her wrong so many times, Salim aids Latika in escaping from Javeds house, even though he worked for him. While Latika is escaping, Jamal is answering the last question in Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which he had become a contestant on knowing Latika would be watching. On his last question he phones a find. He calls Salim but to his surprise, Latika answers, telling him shes okay and out of harm. The movie ends with Salim being killed upon his boss finding out he helped Latika escape, and Jamal and Latika are reunited, Jamal with the grand prize from winning the game show.
        The main point of this movie, that I had understood at least, is that even through the hard times there is still good to be done and compasion to be felt. Even though Jamal was orphaned and begging on the streets, he still held his compassion for his brother and Latika. Jamal saves Latika twice throughout the movie, and was completely dedicated to make sure she was safe. He saves Latika from Mamann and then from Javed showing how closely attached he had felt.