Roedy Green There are three films called Amal. I am talking about the 2007 version. The 2004 version has the same plot and some of the same actors, but is much shorter. The 2005 version is completely unrelated, about Morocco.The movie catches you over and over. You think you see yet another Hollywood cliché coming, but like a bullfighter the film changes at the last second to surprise you. Even the end leaves you sitting on the ground going what the? What just happened? It is quite a bit more subtle that you would expect from the almost fairy-tale way the story unfolds.Amal himself is insipid and not very interesting. I had far more compassion for the villains and the desperate plights they had got themselves into.The scene where mama prays a vehicle to life with the help of Ganesh was not funny, just insulting. The moral of the movie is God decides if you have good or bad fortune, so it is pointless to try to influence it. I did not enjoy having this idiotic religious philosophy pushed in my face repeatedly as highest virtue and wisdom. I not just the characters thought this way, the director was trying to sell it to the audience as well.Amal does nothing but drive his motorised rickshaw and sleep. (You don't even see him eat, shop, bathe, change ...) He is scrupulously honest (refusing tips). He might as well be a robot for all the life and sophistication he has in him. Even though a number of terrible things happen to him, I was not particularly moved. You are supposed to be extremely impressed by his virtue. I just saw a guy with ADD.

tomohara As I watched Amal, I thought "This is two films which won't please Indians because both present the beggar child as working for some slumlord."I fully expected rags to riches would win out as in Slumdog; but no, something special and unexpected here. Amal is a lovely film, rich photography, wonderful subtle acting, suspense, love, moral values,great yarn. A rich hotelier, disillusioned by morals of family,colleagues and other service providers goes vagabond in search of the 'honest person" The one he finds is a humble autorickshaw driver. His decision to endow Amal upon his death leads to a great story.

tollini I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2008. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."Amal is a 30ish autorickshawdriver in New Delhi. He appears to be simple and quiet and even naïve. He dutifully lives with and supports his Mother, and works long hours to make ends meet. He is so out of place with the rest of the huge city of New Delhi. His fellow autorickshawdrivers seem to be hustlers and cheats. And his passengers and Delhi citizens are even worse. They include conniving lawyers, loan sharks, thieves, bribers, and spoiled adult children. One day Amal chases a little girl who has stolen a purse from a regular passenger. Amal accidentally causes her to be hit by a car and seriously hurt. Amal, out of the goodness of his heart, takes on the welfare of the child in a hospital. We begin to see Amal's incredibly generous and giving nature.Amal also has another chance, life-altering encounter when he picks up a surly old man who hates the world and tries to negotiate hard. Amal won't play his game, and cheerfully acquiesces to the old man's wishes. Unbeknownst to Amal, the man is rich and is so moved by their brief encounter that he leaves Amal in his will.There is a painful irony between Amal needing money to help the hospitalized girl and almost being wealthy by a kindness of a curmudgeon. This irony drives the story, and keeps your interest high.Amal is unaffected by worldly matters that consume everyone else. He is centered by his goodness and honesty and integrity. Sacrifice is all he knows – except for his rich life in the help of others. FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

Natalie Just got back from a cruise out of New York to Bermuda and was fortunate to have landed in Bermuda the same time as the BIFF (Bermuda International Film Festival) Amal was the only film my husband and I saw, and it was amazing. I felt like I was in India experiencing a life changing experience through the actors and the story. This was meaningful, heartfelt and fulfilling. The director took questions at the end and you could feel the love he had for the work and the film. So many in the audience that had actually been to New Delhi, said it was true to their experience on the streets. I loved this film and found it to be a life lesson to any who see it. Bless all those involved in this great piece of work. The only sadness that I have is that because of the few scenes of foul language, it will get an R rating in the states....I wish it would be a PG-13 so that more youth could see it.