Rating: 5 Pulses

Rated R

Slumdog Millionaire opens as 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Patel) has just finished his first day as a contestant on the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”. Because Jamal plays so well, he is accused of cheating and is tortured for information. The show can’t understand how a “slumdog,” with no formal education can win more than any other contestant. He denies any wrongdoing and as the movie progresses in the present, each question from the show sparks a memory from Jamal’s past, enabling him to answer correctly.

The film physically seizes its viewers. The visual and auditory senses are bombarded with bright colors, sounds, music and the sweeping shots of India that show her in all her glory and horror.

The story centers around Malik, his older brother Salim (Mittal) and Latika (Pinto), their friend and Jamal’s love interest. The film shows them as young children, young teens, then adults. They are each represented by three different actors, each as flawless as the next. The young, wide-eyed children play their roles as Indian orphans so believably it’s almost unsettling. The transition through childhood to adulthood is seamless and makes the film all the more engrossing.

There are moments of grit and enormous tragedy where viewers may find themselves looking away because the screen is too difficult to watch, although the overall story is about overcoming insurmountable obstacles like poverty, gangs, death, finding the path of redemption, and of course, of a great love.

At any given moment the viewer will find some comedic relief and laugh out loud despite the heartbreaking tragedy. They will be on the edge of their seat as the children try to escape from their captors or as they anticipate the answers to Jamal’s questions. They will sigh as they realize, what we as Americans often forget, that safety, security, love, food, shelter and other necessities that are taken for granted are not available to everyone. They will see a world that they perhaps have preconceived notions about, but in fact, have no idea what some people, some children are forced to do to live.

This movie tells of a love that spans years and a quest to find that person despite inconceivable odds. The movie will take you out of your seat for two hours and as a viewer you will go on Jamal’s journey with him. The end will leave you laughing with tears of joy running down your face.

This movie cannot be missed.