The Slumdog Millionaire Backlash

A few people have explained their reasons for liking the movie, but not loving it; their argument is often that Slumdog Millionaire's portrayal of slum life is romanticized. It doesn't show real poverty; it's "poverty chic."

I get the argument. But is it really an inaccurate depiction of slum life?

"Who wouldn't want to be a millionaire?" says 12-year-old Salman Ali, an orphaned beggar who almost certainly has not seen Slumdog Millionaire and, even if he had, would likely not object to what practically many agree is a generally accurate depiction of his city's problems. Also, Magnier spoke with an Indian homemaker who seems equally completely unfamiliar with the movie, but nonetheless is asked to weigh in on its magical realism (which she finds unrealistic): "I feel it's a wrong route," she says referring to the movie's game-show premise. "We barely get by, but the answer is education and hard work, not a quick fix."

As Magnier concedes near the middle of his piece, most of the perceived uproar over Slumdog seems to derive from India's reluctance to be portrayed as an underdeveloped country at a time when it's trying to position itself as a global superpower, and not from any actual offense taken by Mumbai residents. And since none of Hollywood's award-givers seem to be listening anyway, we doubt Danny Boyle's losing much sleep over this.

For my money, Slumdog was the second best movie I saw last year. It was Frank Capra-- and I love Frank Capra movies despite their sentimentality-- meets City of God. But I do understand the arguments against it. I just don't think their necessarily accurate ones.