Portraying Persistence: The Importance of Cinematic Techniques in Slumdog Millionaire Anonymous 11th Grade

In the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, directed by Danny Boyle, Jamal Malik features on the Mumbai version of the game show ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ where he is one question away from winning twenty million rupees by using past experiences to answer the questions. In a desperate attempt to find his long-lost love, Latika, Jamal uses past experiences to answer the questions on the show, despite being accused of cheating and having to face the challenge of proving his innocence. In the opening sequence of the film ’Slumdog Millionaire', Jamal Malik, is introduced to the viewers as he is being interrogated by a policeman who firmly believes Jamal has cheated his way through the show. Throughout the time Jamal is beaten, electrocuted, slapped and drowned, he is persistent in proclaiming his innocence and is willing to prove that he knew the game show answers and did not cheat. In the opening scene, amongst the rest of the film, the subjects of perseverance and hardship are explored. The visual and oral features of diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, camera shots and camera angles are used by director Danny Boyle to portray the important message that persistence is key in the face of adversity. Through Jamal, a key character in...