Movies: Salaam Bombay

Finally got through the last of my batch of movies, although it took two sittings.  I got half-way through this one last night and found myself so sad that I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep well if I watched the entire movie.  So I stopped and picked up again this morning.

I didn’t let this kids watch this last night since I was uncertain about the content or level of violence.  This morning, though, I let them finish it with me.

They couldn’t move.  They were mesmerized.

And they asked really tough questions about the movie which both pleased and pained me.

My five-year-old son asked about the children depicted, Why don’t they have any shoes?  Where are their shoes?

To which I answer, They’re very poor; they cannot afford shoes.

He persists with the same line of questioning, unable to comprehend how a child could have no shoes.

At the end of the movie, my nine-year-old asks, Is there a second disk?  Isn’t there more to this story?

No, I answer, there’s nothing more.  You’re left to use your imagination as to how the rest of this poor boy’s life will run, based on what you know.

She’s not satisfied with that answer, any more than my son was with his answer.

Good.  That’s as it should be.

And so was the movie.  Good.  Painful.  As it should be.

9:12:45 PM    comment []