A stolen fortune, a religious boy, and a currency in crisis
In short: When a 9-year-old boy finds a bag of stolen banknotes on a train track, he faces a moral dilemma: keep the wealth or give it away? Set against the backdrop of the UK's transition to the Euro, this fable explores the weight of money and the purity of childhood faith.
Directed by Danny Boyle, 'Millions' follows Damian, a devout Catholic boy who discovers a stash of cash intended for destruction during the UK's move to the Euro currency. While his older brother Anthony views the money as a vehicle for real estate investment and personal gain, Damian is moved by his religious upbringing and a school lecture on philanthropy. He attempts to perform small acts of kindness, such as freeing pets and feeding the hungry, before ultimately donating £1,000 to a school collection.
The narrative takes a turn when the boys learn the money was stolen from a train robbery. The discovery that their 'gift from God' was actually the proceeds of a crime causes Damian significant distress. The tension escalates when a robber tracks the money to their home, leading to a chaotic sequence where the family—inspired by the robber's theft of their Christmas—decides to embark on a massive shopping spree. The film explores the complexities of money, depicting it as both a source of greed and a tool for societal good.
Critically acclaimed as a 'charming children fable,' the film received an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 74/100 on Metacritic. It was praised by Roger Ebert for tackling 'real ideas' and 'real issues' without becoming 'sanitized brainless eye candy.' Despite its whimsical elements, such as materializing saints, it was noted for its nuanced portrayal of faith and the moral weight of wealth. The story concludes with a dream of using the money to build water wells in Africa, highlighting the cheapest way to improve quality of life in those communities.
While the film is celebrated for its positive depiction of faith, some critics noted it contains moments of menace, mild profanity, and brief scenes of boyish curiosity regarding internet content, leading to an A-II rating from the USCCB. Interestingly, director Danny Boyle revealed in a 2014 interview that he and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce—whose screenplay won Best Screenplay—originally considered making the film a musical featuring original songs by Noel Gallagher.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Millions (2004 film)
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