The visual language of Boyle has always been fascinating and Millions is not exception, it is exceptional with brilliant use of contrasts, angles, and other symbolic imagery.  Artistically, the opening scene with Damian and his brother Anthony (Lewis Owen McGibbon) standing with their bikes ready for a race in a small tunnel analogously presents a new beginning in a time of hurry and pursuit.  Furthermore, the scene moves rapidly together with Damian’s narration explaining how the British nation will move from Pounds to Euros at the end of the year.  The goal of the race is a building site for a new suburban area to which Damian and Anthony intend to move with their father, as soon as their house is built.  Through a wonderfully imaginative use of stop-motion and computer animation Boyle sees that the audience experiences the complete construction of their house, which also suggestively brings the mind to the costs of the materials and work put into the house.  However, the two children’s presence presents the idea of youthful obliviousness in regards to the monetary wheel of society.

Through the carefully detailed character development in the beginning two very different characters materialize through Damian and Anthony.  Damian is often deep in thoughts pondering the moral choices in life while reflecting over the actions of saints and their fates, as he tries to find a way to better himself.  Much of his thoughtfulness is due to the loss of his mother whom he misses dearly, and occasionally he has revelations of saints.  One could say that Damian is far from what most people would call a normal child.  His brother Anthony on the other hand seizes the moment by exploiting human kindness and compassion by telling anyone from whom he can gain a favorable position that his mother is dead.  Through the exploitations of others sympathy, Anthony gains candy, kindness, and whatever else he needs at a time of desire.

To nourish his spiritual and moral needs Damian builds a home, away from home, out of cardboard boxes.  It is also where he has one of his many visions of saints, and when he meets Clare of Assisi a miracle appears in the form of a Nike bag full of British Pounds.  In a similar manner that Anthony exploits people’s kindness, the bag of money brings out the bad in people, as everyone who finds an opportunity of gaining some cash manipulates the situation to the fullest.  Nonetheless, Damian tries to accomplish acts of kindness and compassion to all people including his brother whose greed grows with the knowledge of the fortune in the bag.

One of the more appealing traits of the story is the humanity of the tale, as Boyle accentuates the notion of human imperfection.  Some of these flaws emerge through the saints in Damian’s visions, but also through Damian’s own naïve ignorance.  Yet, Damian learns in the process, as he innocently seeks a higher truth of moral righteousness.  However, he also learns that the money that fell in his lap has a different source than what he first thought and money often brings about dishonesty.  In the process, Boyle delivers a tale of understanding, grief, wisdom, and much more, as the tale follows the human materialistic desire.  In addition, Millions does not turn into a dry socioeconomic drama with strict symbolism in the traditional sense, but a playful venture of many human aspects that is full of amusement, suspense, and valuable lessons in regards the smaller things in life.

DIRECTED BY

COUNTRY

UK / USA

Filmography links and data courtesy of