The Slumdog debate: is it poverty porn or honest, cathartic art? – Opinion. Somewhat popularist in its approach to poverty, this film has had more than its share of controversy. I felt a little let down by this film .. left me with the desire to see more of the complexity of the situation. Yes there’s poverty and yes where there is poverty there’s desperation and where there’s desperation there’s going to be corruption. Not news. There could have been less of a voyeuristic view of this – poverty as tourism.  See disaster tourism  and the exhibition I was involved with a while ago by the same name. Cinema as insight I don’t think in this movie’s case…