Narrative Conventions in Slumdog Millionaire
Describe narrative features in media texts: Julia Strachan
“Slumdog Millionaire”, directed by Danny Boyle, is a complex, fast pace film. We are taken on a journey through India as Jamal Malik tells us his life story to prove his innocence. Jamal grows up in the Slums of India and with his brother Salim by his side the learn how to survive on their own. Through different life events Jamal progressively learns the answers to the ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ questions. This film breaks the boundaries of stereotypes and has a great impact on the audience. Danny Boyle is an English film director; he won the academy award for best director for Slumdog Millionaire and directed other films such as 28 days later and 127 hours. Three key techniques Danny Boyle uses effectively is Setting, Character Development and Internal conflict.
The convention of Setting used in Slumdog Millionaire is important to the narrative as it helps the audience to establish that the film is set in India. In India you have extremes in close proximity helping to further exaggerate the contrasts between social groups. It also helps us learn more about the characters personality and background and gives a clear indication of the stereo types used.
We are first introduced to the setting of the ‘slums’ in chapter 3: Slumdog title sequence. Ariel shots are shown of the slums, jumping from close birds eye view of part of the slum, to further and further away each time it jumps, till we have a full view of the ever stretching poverty. This contrasts to the setting of the developed high rises of Mumbai nearing the end of the film, chapter 18: Meets Salim who is working for Javed on a construction building. There is an establishing shot of Salim and Jamal look out over the newly formed city, where their slums used to be when they were kids.
The setting of the slums influences the audiences relationship with Jamal, making them more sympathetic because we are shown the hardships and struggle
“Slumdog Millionaire”, directed by Danny Boyle, is a complex, fast pace film. We are taken on a journey through India as Jamal Malik tells us his life story to prove his innocence. Jamal grows up in the Slums of India and with his brother Salim by his side the learn how to survive on their own. Through different life events Jamal progressively learns the answers to the ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ questions. This film breaks the boundaries of stereotypes and has a great impact on the audience. Danny Boyle is an English film director; he won the academy award for best director for Slumdog Millionaire and directed other films such as 28 days later and 127 hours. Three key techniques Danny Boyle uses effectively is Setting, Character Development and Internal conflict.
The convention of Setting used in Slumdog Millionaire is important to the narrative as it helps the audience to establish that the film is set in India. In India you have extremes in close proximity helping to further exaggerate the contrasts between social groups. It also helps us learn more about the characters personality and background and gives a clear indication of the stereo types used.
We are first introduced to the setting of the ‘slums’ in chapter 3: Slumdog title sequence. Ariel shots are shown of the slums, jumping from close birds eye view of part of the slum, to further and further away each time it jumps, till we have a full view of the ever stretching poverty. This contrasts to the setting of the developed high rises of Mumbai nearing the end of the film, chapter 18: Meets Salim who is working for Javed on a construction building. There is an establishing shot of Salim and Jamal look out over the newly formed city, where their slums used to be when they were kids.
The setting of the slums influences the audiences relationship with Jamal, making them more sympathetic because we are shown the hardships and struggle