Dan and I saw “Slumdog Millionaire” on Friday and both enjoyed it tremendously. Nominated for ten Oscars, the film is beautifully filmed and directed. The story is captivating and well-told, (although admittedly far-fetched). The acting is nothing to write home about, but not at all distracting. All in all, I highly recommend it. It definitely made my all-time top 10 list. 

Of course, I’m a bit partial, having spent some time in India myself. What I loved most about “Slumdog” was its remarkably spot-on depiction of the country. Little details—from the tight, crowded ally-ways to the heaps of trash in the rivers, to the bells around the children’s feet, to the sudden appearance of the magnificent Taj—perfectly captured India in all it ugliness and glory, color and noise. 

The children in the movie brought back some wonderful memories of the children I met working with my sister at a ministry in Hyderabad. Just the way the children ran and laughed and interacted made me long to go back. Something about the young Lakita character reminded me so much of a little girl I met named Bharathi, who is pictured above on the left. (The cutie on the right is our sponsored kid, Deena.) 

Bharathi is HIV-positive. She grew up in a basket-weaving colony, and was orphaned at an early age. Like the characters in the movie, Bharathi and her brother learned to survive on the streets by begging. 

The ministry for which my sister worked takes in children affected by HIV-AIDS, so Bharathi is now well cared for, and enjoys access to a good education and healthcare. Like the Lakita character, Bharathi has an impish little smile, beautiful eyes, and a mischievous streak.  

Here’s a link to the ministry’s Web site. Below are some more of my sister Amanda's pictures. 

So, have you seen “Slumdog”? What did you think? What are some movies with which you have a special connection due to personal experience?