In best represents the movie’s artistic vision

In Danny Boyle’s film Slumdog Millionaire, the cinematography is incredible. The use of settings, camera angles, and the characters within the film make it engaging and powerful from beginning to end. The film begins with 18-year-old Jamal Malik as he answers questions on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” As he plays, flashbacks are used to show how Jamal ended up there. The scene that I believe best represents the movie’s artistic vision is the flashback  to the riot in the Slums of Mumbai where Jamal grew up. The viewer sees this as it holds the answer to the question asked, “what does the God Rama famously hold in his right hand.” Through the cinematography used by Mr. Boyle, the audience sees corruption and prejudice plaguing India. It invites emotion and draws us in like a good book would. The use of camera angles and fast cuts between scenes create disorientation and fear, capturing your attention. The film begins with bright flashing lights, inviting one and all to come and watch the game show. It creates a sense of false happiness, like Jamal could win it all and there would be a happily ever after. The audience claps for Jamal creating confidence that he could actually win but once a close up is shown of Jamal, you see that he’s nervous and doubt begins to creep in. Not knowing for sure if he has a chance to win. Still, he’s there, on the show ready to play and everyone is rooting for him to win. On the other hand, a shadow covers half of Prem Kumar implying that there’s two sides to him and creating a sense of mystery. Once the first flashback is shown, that’s when reality sets in. The light around the frame create the feelings of dirtiness that surrounds the slums filled with the working class. Once the riot begins the film becomes disorienting keeping the audience on their toes.The use of camera angles in the cinematography is apparent especially in this flashback. At one point there is a shot taken from above as if it is on top of a building symbolizing how the lower classes are looked down upon. Soon after the camera begins to follow Jamal and his brother as they play in the water. They appear innocent and free, because of this scene the audience feels hurt when they are attacked solely because they are Muslim. It’s powerful when two people that you shouldn’t feel connected to, grab at your heart when they are hurt. The next scene shows a close up of the mother’s face singling her out from the crowd. The look on her face creates a sense of anxiety and there’s a realization of impending danger. The distance shown between the sons and mother is highlighted, therefore when she is killed, the audience is crushed as she cannot reach her sons before she dies. When the riot begins, the shots become disorienting capturing the chaos.