A few weeks ago, I had a chance to speak to Danny Boyle, the film-maker behind Slumdog Millionaire (neck and neck my favorite movie of the year with Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler –see them both right now!). What started as a conversation around Danny’s triumphant film set in the heart of Mumbai’s sprawling slums evolved into a meditation on the art of story-telling. I’m not going to jump the shark by saying too much. You can hear Danny in his own words here. Trust me, it’s worth it.
I have long been a believer that a single story can change the world. The story of poor carpenter from Bethlehem certainly is proof of that. In more modern times, we’ve watched (for better) the story of how a “half naked fakir” brought down the British Empire (Gandhi) and (for worse) the story of how a failed army corporal perpetrated the worst genocide in human history, each changing the course of our civilization. In our conversation, Danny says it well: “Storytelling is how we talk to each other. It shapes and gives architecture to conversations and circumstances.”
And yet, if you ask me, it’s also why we find ourselves where we are today, with economies and ecologies crumbling. We’ve replaced our mythical heroes – the great prophets of spiritual traditions or the larger than life protagonists of legends like Homer’s Odyssey or Valmiki’s Ramayan – with false prophets, Jihadis and Jezebels, petty tyrants and power-hungry sycophants.
If as a civilization we want to see ourselves progress to our next stage of collective evolution, then we need to create new stories and mine new story-tellers (as well as rely on the wisdom of our elders). Today, we are watching the same old story in the Middle East, the definition of insanity wherein both sides react the same way they have for generations as if expecting a different result. Rationalize it all you want, logically articulate why one side is more righteous than the other (and trust me, I know where I fall…) it still doesn’t change the reality of the murder, mayhem, rancor, and generational rage on the ground fueling an endless cycle of war. Likewise, we need a new story in India and Pakistan today, where the same feud that has raged for decades (even centuries before Pakistan was Pakistan) now threatens the rest of the world. With our ancient habits and modern technologies, we now have the potency to destroy our planet several times over (as if we wouldn’t be satisfied doing it just once).
Alas, Danny Boyle’s fabulous film Slumdog Millionaire is not the panacea that will solve all of the world’s problems (or even just the ones above!). But if there is one thing we might learn from great film-making, or even more elemental, great story-telling and those that practice the craft, it is that through our stories, we have tremendous power. We have the ability to inspire, lead, and transform. The greatest superheroes are ones that embody great archetypes and whose journeys are ones of mythic transformation. From Icarus to Indra, Solomon to Superman, our greatest heroes are those that teach us about ourselves, bring out the best in us, and allow us to create the world we aspire for children.
Now if that doesn’t convince you to see this film, I don’t know what will.
Listen to Danny Boyle and Gotham Chopra’s coversation here
Read Mallika Chopra’s blog about street children in India and listen to Danny Boyle’s interview about his experiences in the slums of India
superb post.
Hi Gotham,
Thank you for this post. We are in desparate need of great tellers of inspirational stories. What is astonishing is the level of pandering to the lowest common denomiator when it comes to entertainment. Stories about death and destruction, deceit, and corruption fills theater and TV screens alike. Pepole often come away from such viewings re-living what they had just witnessed – whether it was cutting someone down with a machine gun or machete, or the inspiring story of an undying love. How much better would our lives be if more people were reliving the story of gratitude, forgiveness and love?
Providing a more engaging choice of entertainment will be a challenge if we wish to stop feeding our minds with the notion that basal instinct rules over conscious awareness. Maybe it's just easier to write a story that registers with our reptilian brain than our neocortex. I believe however, that we possess the ablilty to tell stories that inspire our greatness and our compassion.
Why is it that most all futuristic movies portray a world wracked by war, where citizens are either watched over with authoritarian rule, are fighting for the last scraps of resources, or are being gunned down by vengeful machines (or all three)? Where are the stories that portray the paradise that is within our grasp? Where are the stories that show us how we will achieve that paradise?
We need to encourage the entertainment industry to tell stories of conscious awareness and compassion, but it all hinges on the box office. Today, it seems that sex and blood fills seats. Finding ways to displace gore, greed, and deceit will be a challenge indeed. Thank you for focusing your attention on this.
Peace and freedom
Phillip
Brilliant post! Thanks a lot for this one!
Wish I had the change to see the movie, it sounds good.
Wonder why America does not invade India to right these wrongs . . .
Since we are the purveyor of "freedom" and "justice" worldwide . . .
GGotham,
YYour blog, this blog, is dated Jan. 11, 2009. It is here in the USA JJan. 10. Are you out tof the country?Have a good time wherever You are.
In love and peace,
Razz
Gotham, I love the movie! And you're so right, Danny Boyle is a great storyteller… The movie is intriguing, compelling, funny, enjoyable and exciting. Thanks for sharing. I like your article too.
By the way, Slumdog Millionaire reminds me of your book, "Child of the Dawn"…which I loved when I read it years ago.
Nice post.. I had thought that a good thinker can make good movie.. and its true now when I read this.
Finally got to see Slumdog Millionaire. I need to watch it again because throughout the show, I kept thinking about how Child of the Dawn would be a powerful story of hardship, courage, hope and love without the violence, greed and deception. Your story would inspire and touch the hearts of teens (and adults) who are lost, trying to find their way and have little hope for their lives.
As a high school counselor, I am always using the spiritual teachings from the book as a guide for my life, sharing the teachings to my family, friends and students. I even bought several copies to give to my children and friends.
Forget the comics and find a way to get your parable out to the masses (a movie version). With so many lost souls, we need more stories that evoke strong emotions that can guide us to a spiritual awakening.
Just as the Oscar buzz surrounding the movie continues to grow, Slumdog Millionaire, with it