I am very, very confused. I keep hearing from all the producers and big shots who helmed Slumdog Millionaire that the children are taken care of and they have a place to live and their school is paid for and blah, blah, blah. But, then I read the story last week about one of the kids having his shanty torn down and then yesterday Rubina Ali had her home torn down. Rubina was my favorite in the movie, so this really ticks me off. In addition, her father is in the hospital because he was beaten so badly by the police when he tried to stop them from tearing down his home.
I think it is time for answers. There needs to be a press conference or an interview given to a member of the media who can ask the right questions and not just ask what kind of shampoo the producers use. Someone needs to sit down with graphs or charts and tell us exactly what they have done for these kids and when, and how come the kids are now homeless and are still wearing the clothes they wore three months ago.
The producers need one voice explaining what they have done. Right now I hear this and I hear that, but the kids keep living crappy lives. There are millions of kids like the Slumdog kids, and if rich Hollywood producers and executives aren't willing to help these few children, how on earth are any of the other similar millions going to get help?
I am actually disgusted now at the Slumdog producers and executives. They think it will all just go away, but it won't. One of them needs to take responsibility and stop passing the buck. One of them needs to go to India. Rent a house or a bunch of hotel rooms and put the kids there. They need to make sure the kids go to school. How difficult is it for one of these guys to go there and do that? The thing is they don't want to anymore because there is nothing in it for them except goodwill. They don't want goodwill, they want money, awards and fame which is why they said all they said before.
This makes me so super, supersad. I really hope its not true.
ReplyDeleteThis is simply sad but not unusual in Hollywood. The rich get richer off of the sweat of the downtrodden, karma is a mf'er
ReplyDeleteI'm glad i haven't seen the film. They don't deserve our money or time (the big wigs, not the sweet children).
ReplyDeleteI saw the movie after it won the Oscar, knowing I would be disturbed by the images I saw, and I was. I couldn't help but think during the entire film what kind of lives these kids would have after all of the awards were given, and I guess we have an answer. It's absolutely disgusting, and I regret ever paying my $20 to see it. The media needs to stop glossing over it and really push the producers to follow up on their promises. I'm sorry, but saving an undisclosed amount for when they are 18 isn't enough. They need help now.
ReplyDeletei refuse to see this movie based on the fact that these types of stories were coming out before the movie did and were swept under the rug.
ReplyDeleteshame on everyone involved.
having said that..big move stars or not, these kids are victims of abuse and need to be treated accordingly. the corruption in that country is astounding.
Terrible situation. But what can the producers do? They can't take the children away from their parents, and by the looks of things, the parents can't be trusted to act in the best interests of the kids. Until the Indian government does something about the appalling slums of Mumbai, these kid's lives are going to be fucked. No fairytale ending for them...
ReplyDeleteI really disliked Slumdog Millionaire. And I'm still puzzled as to what in it was supposed to make me feel good. The violent scenes with children? The tacked on hackneyed ending? The injection of American can-do attitudes into the slums of India?
ReplyDeleteBut all that was a movie. This real life fall out is shameful. Shame on Boyle and the rest of them for not truly taking care of these kids that have made them millions and given them awards and status.
I saw this movie when it first came out at the theater and was appalled. I couldn't understand why it was supposed to be the feel good movie of the year.
ReplyDeleteThe movie was violent and sad and so are these childrens' lives.
What a shame.
I initially refused to see the movie because I heard these kids were still living in poverty, but then PR the did for during the Oscar race claimed all the children where living in adequate homes. Now it turns out it isn't true.
ReplyDeleteThis is really disgusting and I wish I never paid the money to see that movie. Those kids were great in it and deserve to have a warm home!
glad i have not seen this flick. my expectations were low from the very beginning. very sad.
ReplyDeleteI am more dismayed at the way the producers gave the kids a sense of entitlement to the rich life they experienced in their few days in the States. The kids (and their parents) now seem to think that because the kids are now "movie stars", that they are supposed to have housing. The kids don't seem to want the school funds the producers set up.
ReplyDeleteGot it through Netflix, and can't say it didn't show anything I hadn't already experienced during my travels in India last year.
ReplyDeleteI've spent time in Mangalore, Goa, and Mumbai.... what is described in Enty's post and what I want to tell you about, it's everywhere. It's just part of how their world WORKS.
There's actually something among the low castes called "Cruise Day" in Mumbai (where I saw it in action the most). The people there know when the cruise ships dock and show up in force in their worst to beg their best.
They send the children to target US/UK/Canadian/Euro targets. They beg you for money---but you've been warned not to pass out cash. They ask you for food. Well, who in their right soul can refuse to feed a child?
You're lead to a storefront. The going rate for rice or powdered milk is 50 times the going rate. You buy it, because you're there, you said you'd help, and you don't want to seem like an asshole for not paying $9US for milk. ~eyeroll~
I mean...hell, you promised, right?
Wanna know what happens next? The kid watches you go around the corner and then kicks backs that tin to the seller. It's about a 60/40 split on the cash.
Happen all the time in Mumbai? Maybe not.
Everybody do it? Maybe not. Numbed by seeing it happen over and over? Hell f'ing yeah.
I feel for the folks in Mumbai who don't do this. Do I wish with all my heart I could do something---anything--- to make a REAL difference? Yes. But it is absolutely overshadowed by the ones who take advantage of the circumstances and seriously don't give a rat's ass about the people around them.
And given the chance? Those pulled up would kick the ones below in the face to keep their spot on the ladder.
That's just life here. As much as it sux, that's just life here.
Sorry, I was trying to convey that there isn't much difference between what the Hollywood people want and what the Indian people want.
ReplyDeleteTo have/get money
Regardless of the cost to anyone.
Actually, Mumbai and Hollywood producer----it's almost a union made in money-grubbing heaven.
@Queen of Argyle: Learned behaviour. Both sides do what they need to do to survive.
ReplyDeleteStatus quo unless the system changes (which it won't).
Queen of Argyle,
ReplyDeletevery true. I've spent a few months in India, and I was about equal parts charmed and horrified by what I saw.
In the end, I found I was so, so tired of everybody and their uncle trying to rip me off. It was tiring to be conttsantly on my guard. Tourists and foreigners are like chum in the water. It's even institutionalised, with huge differences in admission prices for locals and tourists at attractions.
Thanks for bringing this up. I have seen/heard/read so much about these kids, and what they supposedly have/don't have. It's terribly sad. Even moreso when I heard about Rubina's father attempting to sell/"give her up for adoption."
ReplyDeleteVery, very sad.