Slumdog Millionaire Reflection

In what ways do the film address globalization?
The film largely portrays globalization in a negative light, by showing the often unseen effects of industrialization. For example, the Juhu slum is shown to be transformed into a center of commerce in a matter of years, portraying how the issues of poverty are just masked rather than addressed. The film shows how wealth becomes distributed even more unequally as a result of globalization, which allows gangs to prosper.

The negative effects of the prevalence of western culture and the increasing desire for wealth are symbolized by Salim's corruption. Particularly, the shot of Salim being shot in the bathtub full of money is a literal image of how money corrupts and in the end leaves nothing but carnage. In contrast, Jamal's reason for going on the show is not for wealth, but for Latika. In that sense, Salim is corrupted by money and the desire for the wealth that is representative of globalization, whereas Jamal's ability to prioritize love over money allows him to survive his struggles. Therefore, the film presents globalization as a corrupting power that allows no real hope for solving the issues that already exist.

How does the filmmaker address social issues in the East vs the West?
Since the film is set in India, there is of course a greater focus on social issues in the East, from the Eastern perspective. Boyle attempts to force the viewer into a intimate confrontation with issues such as child trafficking with unforgettable scenes such as a young boy being blinded in order to make more money. Combined with economic despair, issues such as religion are also brought up: the brothers' mother is killed in a riot against Muslims. By relating significant events of the protagonist's life within the context of major social in the East, Boyle directly addresses the social issues prevalent in the East.

In contrast, Boyle's focus on the West centers largely on money and misinformation. The limited time Boyle spends portraying Western interaction with the East includes the portrayal of the German tourists and the American tourists. The German tourists at the Taj Mahal, even with their pamphlets of information, believe the local boy. This, perhaps, indicates a willingness of the West to believe the convenient truth rather than investigate the core problem. The true problem is Jamal's situation, but the tourists ignore that to focus on his knowledge and insight. The American tourists present the same ignorance of true issues. When Jamal is being beaten and says, "This is the real India", the American woman ignores the comment and attempts to fix the problem with money. The unwillingness of the woman to look beyond the surface to look at Jamal's situation and her attempt to mask the situation with money exposes a shallow Western perspective.