Movies provide a great way to teach lessons – to children, teenagers, and adults alike. If Slumdog Millionaire is available in your area, take the opportunity to see it. Not only is it a brilliant, critically-acclaimed movie, it teaches many lessons that both adults and teenagers alike can take away.
Slumdog Millionaire is the story of an orphan, Jamal, from the slums of Mumbai who is about to win 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” How could an uneducated “slumdog” make it so far on such a challenging game show? Did he cheat? Is he a genius? Or is it destiny? The answer is revealed through vivid flashbacks and memories of a painful journey that has led Jamal to the hot seat.
Shot and set in India, British director Danny Boyle (Millions, 28 Days Later) has succeeded at telling an underdog story in a fresh and thrilling way that is accessible by all. A visually stimulating film, it tells the story in a unique and engaging way. Many movie-makers should watch this film to see how quick cutting and editing can be used in an effective way. Unlike the recent James Bond movie, the cutting is easy to follow and adds to the sensation and reality of flashing memories. The use of language creates a very genuine feeling, as about a third of the dialogue is spoken in Hindu with English subtitles. As the movie flows in and out of English, audiences are presented with a movie that has successfully captured the essence of Indian cultures.
As a parent or caregiver, consider seeing Slumdog Millionaire and taking your angsty teenager (rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language). Teens and adults will benefit from learning the following lessons from this inspirational movie:
- Every experience (good and bad) contributes to who we are and what we know
- Millions of people are given nothing in life but pain and hardship (so quit complaining!)
- You have to fight (persist) for the things in life you really care about
- Being a bad person will eventually catch up with you
- If you make bad choices, take life’s opportunities to redeem yourself
- People are most successful when they work together
- Being a truthful person can make you a hero
- An individual can be a true and good person – even without good parents (or any parents)
- Trusting the wrong person can backfire, but
- Having faith in people can pay off
The best way to connect lessons from a movie to an individual is to have a discussion. Watch the movie, and sit down and have an engaging conversation afterward. This is definitely the kind of movie that should arouse some emotions and reactions from even the most stone-walled individual.
If nothing else, at least see the film because it’s just plain entertaining.
For more information and details about the film, check out Slumdog Millionaire on IMDB.com
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