Opening to Slumdog Millionaire - Danny Boyle

The film opens with cuttings of Jamal in an interrogation room and Jamal on the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? television show. In this scene the theme of escapism from the real world (going on a tv show is like going into a different world) is really portrayed to the audience and we start to get a feel for what the rest of the film is going to be about. He uses quick cuts to show the two different areas that Jamal is in and these represent the real life (interrogation), and the escapist life (Millionaire show). Boyle uses strong contrasts to show the differences. We now know that there are these two different worlds in the film, and that they will remain throughout. We will slowly shift from the real world, to the escapist one throughout and this is one of the reasons the film is so popular and interesting to watch. Overall i think that this is a good film opening because it helps us to understand exactly what the film is going to be about and is set and is just generally (beside the confusing elements of it) an enjoyable and interesting opening to watch which makes us want to watch the rest of the film.