Movie #1298 ........................."Lion"

Movie #1298 "Lion" -- what a story! Since this film was based  on a true story, I don't want to give a lot away because I feel once someone tells you the story, or you've seen the 60 minutes cover of this book-made-into-film,  it takes away from the pleasure of it unfolding in front of you as you watch.  Well, I saw the 60 minutes bit  so I knew where it was going, so I guess I had time to sit back and watch the cinematic techniques at work.  As in "Hidden Figures,"  this film relies on  (not mathematics but) google earth to keep us the suspense, and it works for the most part.  In this film, we spend a good first 1/2 hour with the little guy (Saroo as the little kid who grows up to become Dev Patel later in the film)  so we get close to him and we are pulled in to his story.  I am a sucker for films that show this true story about someone and then in the final credits they show you the real person ---- it kind of legitimatizes the film, its message, the costumes, makeup, hair styling, etc.  Patel is coupled with Roony Mara, and they both are very good at showing how his inability to shake his guilt of leaving his home as a kid   gets in the way of starting any adult relationships. And, of course, Nicole Kidman gives a lot of support as the adopted mom --- she has her own story which I wish they would have fleshed out even more because we can only guess (often in the film)  what she went through.  The film is powerful, and this director and the actors hit most of the key moments.  I esp. liked the shot of the white mom and the black one,  arm and arm around Saroo  --- very effective and says volumes in just the one shot!  And it speaks to us today, for sure.  I give this 4 stars out of 5 and recommend it.  Good story --- not for the little kids, because there's a lot of tenseness involved, and a couple of  tame sex scenes.


"LION"  PG-13        2016        4 out of 5 stars

In this affecting true story, 5-year-old Saroo is adopted by an Australian couple after losing his way in the urban jungle of Kolkata. More than two decades later, new mapping technology prompts Saroo to search for his lost family in India.

Cast: Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, Nicole Kidman