You’ve already seen it, but for the few remaining holdouts: Boyle’s Oscar-winning picture, a simple yet euphoric rags-to-riches drama, shoehorns in an unusual amount of class politics for mainstream entertainment. As 18-year-old Jamal (Patel), born in Mumbai’s harshest ghetto, takes a local game show’s top prize, he is immediately questioned by detectives, leading the movie into flashbacks from the school of hard knocks. We always knew the Trainspotting director was about mobility, but it’s actually upward mobility. Expect Slumdog to survive the current backlash and gain in stature. The DVD’s picture transfer is knockout stunning; extras include 12 deleted scenes, a chatty Boyle commentary and the usual making-of featurettes.

• More DVD reviews
• More Film articles