For me, any movie of Judi Dench can't be bad. Apart from Judi Dench, the other attraction of the movie was the fact that it is based on a true story and its connection to the Irish convents. The movie " Magdalene Sisters" has left me with quite an impression and I sure wanted to know more of the legacy of the Irish catholic institutions.
The atrocious practices of these missionaries of the lord is appalling. In the 1950"s the young unwed pregnant women/mothers, women that were raped...the so called " Fallen Women" were abandoned to the convents by their families. These women were subjected to back breaking chores in order for them to " cleanse their sins".
It was a gory revelation that the children born to these women were sold to affluent American Catholic couples hence separating several mothers from their children. Most of the mother's never saw their children ever again after the adoption.
Adapted from the investigative book "The lost child of Philomena Lee" by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, the movie "Philomena tells the story of one such woman's search for her son who was given up for adoption by the nuns of the Magdalene convent where she was confined.
Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in the roles of Philomena and Martin Sixsmith, with the script written by Coogan himself and directed by Stephen Frears does make the movie worth giving a chance.
Philomena" ( Judi Dench) left to the mercy of the convent by her father when he discovered that his young unmarried daughter was with a child. The young Philomena is assigned to work in the laundry where she is made to do back breaking work with only a hour a day when she could see her son. Very soon her son is given up for adoption by nuns and she is forcibly made to sign the papers giving up her rights to her son.
Years later, though life has moved on for Philomena, she can't stop looking for her lost son. It was by chance that Martin Sixsmith walks into her life and supports her in her search for her son.
The unusual partnership between the two very different people adds to the Charm. Sixsmith is a high educated intellectual who went to Oxford and served as a foreign correspondent for BBC. To top it off, he is an atheist and a non believing catholic. Philomena, on the other hand is a devout Catholic in spite of every thing and has worked as a nurse her entire life. She is a regular woman who loves to read romantic fictions.
I loved the following dialogue between the two which aptly sums up their personality -
Philomena Lee :- We come full circle.
Martin Sixsmith :- Yes...the end of all our exploring, will be to arrive where we started, And know the place for the first time.
Philomena Lee :- ah...that's lovely, Martin. Did you just think of that ?
Martin Sixsmith :- No. It's T.S. Eliot.
Philomena Lee :- Oh...Well...never mind. Its still very nice.
A matter of fact story telling. There is no unnecessary sentimentality or melodrama. The tear jerking moments were deep and real. Phenomenal performance by both Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.
Verdict :- 8/10. A definite watch for the season. A beautiful moving story that is bound to leave you misty eyed.
