Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire"

Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle

There seems to be en everlasting conflict between science, and between faith. Man has always chosen between the two, giving the world great leaders of science, and great leaders of faith. In Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, the viewer is thrusted into an ultimate tale of destiny versus coincidence. A young man who has made it onto the popular game show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” is shown being questioned by the authorities, who refuse to believe that this young man, who has been brought up from the slums and forced into a world of poverty and violence, can simply know all the answers. They accuse him of being a cheat, and a liar. Throughout the story the viewers are shown, through flashbacks of his life, that he does indeed know all the answers, simply because of all those experiences. The heavy usage of symbolism, the constant awareness of the direction, and the wide spectrum of colours demonstrate that the director wants the audience to choose between science or faith. The young man, for example, proves to be a man of faith; one who believes ardently in the idea of destiny. An individual, such as this young man, may choose to be a man of science or a man of faith, and in that decision, decide between the concept of coincidence, or the ideology of destiny.

To begin, the usage of symbolism in Slumdog Millionaire varies from simple archetypal symbols, such as water, to more complex symbols, like feet, and blood money.

Water is one of the key necessities for humans to survive. They must drink it, and they must dispose of it. Humans themselves are composed primarily of water, and to live without it would prove to be impossible. So why does the usage of water seem to be an ...

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...ls and beliefs and question whether their lives are in fact on a set path. Danny Boyle even wants undecided viewers to reflect and make a decision.

Because, when human life comes to an end, there must be hope. There must be hope that the sense of purpose has been completed, and that their lives have been fulfilled. Try as anybody might, science can only get you halfway there. The other half, is on simply blind faith. Danny Boyle has made a film with a universal message, and in that message, concluded that everybody’s life has purpose and fulfillment. Each individual has a destiny that may lead them down a tough path in their lives.

If everyone were to view this film and question their beliefs, and sit back and really reflect on the idea of science versus faith, then the film Slumdog Millionaire has accomplished it’s one true goal.

Works Cited

Slumdog Millionaire