Formative Writing †Slumdog Millionaire Essay

The film Slumdog Millionaire by British born director Danny Boyle, gives a particular insight into life in India, and more specifically the city of Mumbai through the use of setting. It is this cultural backdrop presented through the perspective of foreigner that not only works the film special, moreover also sparked a lot of debate whether the image revealed is an accurate enactment of India. The film attempts to show the shocking and disturbing realities that occur in India, including poverty, injustice, slums, large number culture and prostitution. An example of one of these realities being depicted is in the nip where Jamal and Salim have been captured by the gangster Maman who plans to blind Jamal in order to make him a profitable beggar as he will kick upstairs more sympathy if blind.The setting of the scene is outside a far building where the gangsters keep the children at night. These children be placed away from the residual of civilisation showing how they are unw anted and are outsiders. The lighting is marginal making it dark, eerie and scary which is also coupled with fast gradation camera shots which are predominantly close-ups on things such as the acid, Mamans face and one of his accomplices cracking his knuckles. All of these features work together in order to create an intimidating impression on the mantrap as we dont get the full perspective echoing how the children are being tricked and deceived.Salim watches one of the boys eyes being burned yet the viewer doesnt get to see this, instead the horror is echoed through Salims physical reaction as he vomits. It appears that the director wants to shock the audition and present the horrors present in Indian culture, yet he doesnt show it physically being done, creating a barrier which shields the western auditory sense at all times. Maman asks Salim whether he wants the life of a Slumdog or a man? This gives the impression that all Indian men should want to be and are like Maman who is evil and corrupt, giving a negative delegacy of men in India.