My first words out coming out of the theater were “Wow. Wow!” If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you’re missing out. Slumdog Millionaire opens with Jamal, a kid from the sprawling slums of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, who somehow earned a seat on India’s TV show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” being brutally interrogated by 2nd rate policemen. He’s been accused of cheating to get into the final round. How did this supposedly uneducated orphan know so much?
The master storytelling and creative paneling weave together threads of poverty, hope, cruelty, initiative, destiny and love. Having lived in crowded Asian concrete jungles for over a decade, I could smell the cement, sewage and raw despair.
We decided to make a night of it, heading out for Indian food first (tandoori chicken, garlic naan and a mango lassi for me), followed by the film. Ann and I walked out elated. Definitely my vote for best picture of 2008.
Tagged as:
hope,
poverty,
slumdog
Words have power. Most people I know prefer hope to conflict, challenge, opposition, bad weather, delays, shipwreck, drowning, injury and possible death. The same was true in 1488 when Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias first encountered what he called the Cape of Storms while seeking a trade route to the Far East.
John II, king of Portugal at the time of Dias’ report, didn’t see it the same way. Being the visionary, John wanted to recruit oodles of explorers to locate a faster way to get goods to and from the East. “Cape of Storms” just didn’t seem like the right heading for the brochure, so John II changed the name on the map to “Cape of Good Hope.” The Cape represents a major geographic and psychological landmark for shippers who, after weeks heading south, longed to turn east in search of the Orient.
The same was true for me last week as I observed a variety of leaders meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. As those seeking to positively influence others, we need to watch our words carefully. This is one area I am constantly needing to grow in. I tend to be more of a prophet than a salesman, which doesn’t always help my hearers receive my message with my intended impact. It helps me to consider Nathan’s “here’s an interesting story” approach to confronting King David.
Proverbs 15 also offers some counsel for us seeking to shape the conversation:
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
Next time an opportunity presents itself, let’s seek to focus on hope rather than storms.
Lesson for those who lead well: Word choice can open new trade routes to previously unexplored opportunities.
Tagged as:
hope,
Vision,
words
My first words out coming out of the theater were “Wow. Wow!” If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you’re missing out. Slumdog Millionaire opens with Jamal, a kid from the sprawling slums of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, who somehow earned a seat on India’s TV show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” being brutally interrogated by 2nd rate policemen. He’s been accused of cheating to get into the final round. How did this supposedly uneducated orphan know so much?
