"Money is just a thing, and things change"

I am very fond of European movies. They always provide me some insight, or perhaps I have seen too many American movies. European movies seem to let me see the world in a different angle, and often comes with an intoxicating beauty. Girl with a Pearl Earring was one of this kind. Also supported by Pathé and the UK Film Council is Millions, a movie directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later).

The story is very simple, so simple that you probably guessed the ending right after reading the synopsis. However, I must also add that a movie is not a puzzle, so a good script need not (or rather, should not) be complex...

Damian is a young British kid, about the age of 7. After her mother died, he was moving to a new community with his father and his older brother Anthony. Damian was still mourning for the loss of his mother, and he attempted to soothe his own sorrow by imagining her as a saint in heaven. A few days before Christmas, a hugh bag of money fell from the sky. Damian thought it was god who gave him the money. Well educated by his mother, he tried to distribute the money to the poor people, but his brother thought it was a better idea to keep the money to themselves. However, by Christmas the transition to Euro would be complete and any unused British Pounds will be useless. They also have another problem: the money did not come from god. It came from a train robbery.

This simple movie talked about lots of things. What do you get probably depend on what you were thinking at that time. Money is very important in our lives, but should they be? "Money makes it harder to see what is what." More than often, money clouds our judgement costs our children's innocence. Anthony hadn't celebrated his 10th birthday but he is already well-versed in Economy. He knows the exchange rate better than his father. He exploits the death of his mother to get benefits from adults, and is surfing on the Internet for underwear advertisement. Is this what kids are supposed to do?

Damian's saints gave a couple of very refreshing talks. Saint Peter's reinterpretation of the "five loaves and two fish" story might be one of them: Jesus passed the plate to one of his followers. The follower did not take the food, because he had some lamb chops hidden beneath his clothes. Instead he placed some of his lamb on the plate and pretended he took something. Each of the followers did the same, and Jesus himself was astonished when he found the fish and loaves still intact on the plate when it was passed back to him. Saint Peter lied to Jesus and told him it was a miracle. It was not magical. It was sharing out of good faith, but perhaps it was still a miracle. As was what Damian did.

There are more to the movie than what I have written but I believe it is better if I do not spoil you too much before you get a chance to see it. This fairy tale is now showing on selected UA cinemas in Hong Kong.

Impressions on Millions: (first ever) 10/10


You may also find some information from other reviews on the net:

Millions at Rottontomatoes
KDHX Film Review - Millions
Millions is worth the buck

Someone shared similar thoughts too! 爛兔記:電影觀眾不是尊貴客戶