Jamal (Dev Patel) is a young guy living and working in India. He is a lowly tea server at a Mumbai call center who becomes a contestant on the show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He keeps on moving up from one level to another, answering all questions correctly. He is accused of cheating so he is investigated. While he is being interrogated, he narrates snippets from his poverty-ridden childhood that reveal why he knows all the answers. Essential to the story is his relationship with his older brother Salim and his childhood sweetheart Latika (Freida Pinto). The three were close but different circumstances drove them apart. Salim became a drug mafia's right hand man, whereas Latika became the mafioso's lover. To win Latika back, Jamal clashes with his brother and attempts to rescue Latika from her abusive boyfriend. When Jamal loses hope of ever seeing Latika again, he joins the show knowing that Latika will be watching, and they will be reunited again.
Click here to see the rest of this review...
Best part of story, including ending:
The cultural element is very interesting. The poverty is raw and palpable and you see how life is in such a different country.
Best scene in story:
When the brothers would con tourists at the Taj Mahal. The scenery was beautiful and these little boys were just doing the funniest things just to earn money.
Opinion about the main character:
Jamal is a dreamer and an optimist. And it's this hope in him that trumps everything terrible that's happened in his life.
