Lion

Tonight I headed to the Angelika Film Center in Plano to see Lion, which is nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel), Best Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. I think all the nominations are well-deserved for this moving and lovely film.

Young Saroo gets separated from his family when he accidentally boards a train that takes him thousands of miles away from his family. He wonders the streets of Calcutta for months before being taken to an orphanage (I really liked the young man who spots Saroo out on the street from a cafe window when Saroo mimics his soup eating). Since no one has come looking for young Saroo, even after posting his photo in a newspaper read by millions, he gets adopted by an Australian couple. Saroo, played by the young Sunny Pawar, is so captivating on screen. When he arrives in Australian wearing a Tasmania shirt my heart burst.

As an adult, Saroo (now played by Dev Patel) is reminded that he is "lost" when he meets several Indian students in a course he is taking. I tried to imagine how difficult it would be to look part of a culture and identity but not have any real place in it. This spurs him to start looking for his home, thoughts of his mum and brother overtaking his thoughts and dreams.

The performances are all great. I especially liked Nicole Kidman in her small role. She tells her adult child about a vision she had as a child and she knocks it out of the park. Even David Wenham, in his even smaller role, makes an impression. The family that Saroo gets separated from feels incredibly close and loving in the scenes they have together in the first half of the film. The family love is strong, so we feel the pains of loss as Saroos is separated from them.

This is an emotional film about family, love and home. I highly recommend it.