When I first saw the preview for the movie Philomena, I knew immediately I wanted to see it. Judi Dench in the lead role? Say no more.
For those who are unfamiliar, Philomena is based on the book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee" which chronicles the true story of one woman on a quest to find her son.
In the film Judi Dench plays Philomena. We learn through flashbacks that she became pregnant as a young girl and her father (a single parent) was so shamed by her actions, he banished her away to live in a convent.
The nuns treated her miserably, allowed her no pain medication during her delivery and then eventually sold her son to an American couple who came to Ireland to adopt.
In the present day, Philomena's daughter Jane meets a reporter at a cocktail party. She convinces him to consider a human interest story (instead of his usual political coverage) and help her mother find her long lost son.
This reporter, Martin Sixsmith, is played by Steve Coogan. I didn't recognize him from any other films. In this part he plays a political correspondent recently fired from his post. Coogan inhabits the role of downtrodden skeptic perfectly.
*SPOILER ALERT* Do not keep reading if you don't want any more of the plot revealed.
The film is one hour and thirty eight minutes long and about thirty minutes in we learn something tragic about Philomena's son. Knowing the length of the movie, I was wondering, "Where will they go from here?" The part of the movie that followed that discovery was actually more riveting than the initial intrigue of the search.
For those who already saw the movie, I am sure you will agree with me that the final twenty minutes are absolutely gut wrenching. You'll find yourself enraged by Sister Hildegarde's actions and inspired by Philomena's ability to forgive.
When the lights came up in the theater everyone around me was blowing their noses and wiping away tears. Definitely pack tissues for this one!
I'm so happy I was able to see Philomena before the Golden Globe Awards, which are this Sunday January 12th.
What movies are you trying to squeeze in before the Globes on Sunday?
*All images courtesy of The Weinstein Company.
