Scene Focus
During the film we see very contrasting images of India. Think about the scenes suggested below as a starting point for considering the different representations in the film. You might want to consider, character, stereotypes, gender, affluence and poverty in relation to the following scenes.
- The Orphanage – Here Latika, Jamal and Salim are witness to the deliberate blinding of a young boy to increase his earning potential as a beggar.
- The train journey – The contrasting fortunes of the passengers on the train and those of Jamal and Salim.
- The home of Javed, the gangster from the slum, where Latika is forced to live.
- Tourists – We see Jamal encounter two different groups of tourists during his time as a tour guide in and around the Taj Mahal.
You can consider the above scenes and others of your choice as a starting point in the following questions:
- What perspectives of life in India does the film offer? Consider the different locations as a starting point.
- Think about the function of these scenes – do they challenge or confirm the ideas that you started with?
