Efter storslagen fantasy kände jag att jag behövde en mer verklighetsförankrad film – det blev den verklighetsbaserade Philomena, med en av mina favoritskådespelare, Dame Judy Dench.
Filmen är baserad på Martin Sixsmiths The Lost Child of Philomena Lee från 2009. Philomena blir gravid som väldigt ung och därmed hårt straffad av det katolska Irland. Hon placeras i kloster tillsammans med andra ensamstående, olyckliga unga mödrar och nunnorna säljer hennes son till ett amerikanskt par. Hon tvingas skriva på att aldrig göra efterforskningar för att finna sitt barn. Som pensionerad sjuksköterska börjar hon, efter 50 år, med hjälp av den sparkade BBC- reportern Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), att söka efter sonen.
Regissören Stephen Frears (”The Queen”) fokuserar mycket på Philomenas och Martins humoristiskt retsamma smågrälande under resan tillsammans och trots att de är så olika – de kommer från olika samhällsklasser och har helt olika intressen – så kommer de närmre varandra allteftersom vidden av Philomenas livsöde rullas upp.
Storyn väver skickligt samman allt från sexuella begär och religiös fanatik till dagens pressetik och ger oss en både spännande och informativ resa. Gammalreligiösa katoliker och vänner av äldre republikansk politik kan kanske stöta sig på hur historien utvecklas, men innehållet hålls historiskt och faktamässigt riktigt, samtidigt som det presenteras mycket väl balanserat. Martin reagerar starkt på nunnornas fruktansvärda synder i det förflutna medan Philomena trots allt som hänt henne är förlåtande ända till slutet.
Det här är en mycket berikande film. Judy Dench är som alltid fantastisk och tillsammans med Steve Coogan är de det perfekta smågrälande, humoristiska paret som trots grundberättelsens tragik gör att du lämnar biosalongen med både ett leende och en tår. Se den. Njut av skådespelarnas skicklighet, det lugna tempot och en fantastisk livshistoria. Du kommer inte att ångra dig.
Movies, movies, after the fantasy of Smaug, Hobbits and Dwarves I needed some reality – so I went to see Philomena with Dame Judi Dench, who is one of my favourite actresses.
From Imdb: In short, based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, Philomena focuses on the efforts of a retired Irish nurse, Philomena Lee (Dench), mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock – something her Irish-Catholic community punished her severly for – and given away for adoption in the United States. In following church doctrine, she was forced to sign a contract that wouldn’t allow for any sort of inquiry into the son’s whereabouts. After starting a family years later in England and, for the most part, moving on with her life, Lee meets Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a BBC reporter with whom she decides to discover her long-lost son.
Director Stephen Frears (”The Queen”) keeps the focus on Philomena and Martin’s sweet-and-sour banter, making “Philomena” a marvelous movie, a heartwarming drama with plenty of comedic pathos that features Judi Dench playing a simple Irish woman who doesn’t get the jokes of her traveling companion.
This odd-couple road trip tale is based on an incredible true story. Philomena has kept a secret for 50 years — when she was a teen, nuns sold her baby and those of other “shamed” young women to wealthy American couples. Now Philomena Lee is ready to find her son, and her own peace of mind, but she’s going to need some help on this journey. That’s when her daughter finds Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) at a party.
Coogan is co-star, screenwriter and producer — plays just-sacked government press secretary Martin Sixsmith, who takes on Philomena’s human-interest story as a journalistic assignment, despite it being the kind of article that he says only “weak-minded, vulnerable” people appreciate. He’s crass, and the two of them are divided by class – but on their journey together, they bond.
The story neatly weaves in themes such as sexual desires, religious beliefs, regrets of a lifetime and journalistic ethics, making for an intriguing as well as informative experience. Those of the Catholic faith and old American Republican politics will find matters to dislike here. The story is tough on these points and historically accurate, but neatly balanced as well: Martin is furious with the long-ago sins of the nuns, yet Philomena is the one with forgiveness in her heart to the end.
The journey of “Philomena” is an enriching one. It’s pure joy seeing Judy Dench – as always – and Dench and Coogan provides just the right touch of friction as well as humor. “Weak-minded, vulnerable” people as well as those more sophisticated will not regret they took this trip. At least I don’t.
See the trailer here:
Leya 
Thank you for a great review! Am a fan of Judi Dench as well. Shall make sure I don’t miss this when it hits our screens.
😉
Brilliant review …. Have read so much great about this film and I’m a big fan of Judi – she have never done a bad roll. So now I have to watch it!!! Also UK hardly make a bad film. Thanks for this fantastic post, A-C1
Viveka, if you love Dame Judi Dench and a reality story with much heart and warmth told in an old fashioned, slow way – this is for you!
I watch the video … some great humor in it too .. my kind of humor. So I know I will enjoy it. Your review is fantastic. You use so many words at times as I do .. love it. *smile
Ha, ha – I’m not usually a woman of many words…but literature and films bring them out, I think!
Great review. I’ve been waiting to see this movie here where I live, I love Judi Dench, and keeping watching reruns of ”As Time Goes By” on TV.
Please tell me when you’ve seen it!
Having seen this a couple of weeks ago
Ann-Christine I would say this is an excellent review ! And yes – quite a bit for Catholics and others to chunter over … 😉
Smiles and tears indeed .
Tou, Poppy – glad you agree and enjoyed it!
Thank you for the review, Leya! I shall watch the movie 🙂
Hope you will tell me your thoughts about it afterwards!
wonderful review, I am sure I would enjoy it 🙂
I’m certain! It leaves you with a smile and a tear.
This sounds like a great movie thanks for bringing it to my attention!
I’m quite sure you would enjoy it!
It does look interesting.
😉
It does sound like a great movie.
It stays in your mind too – for long. She is still alive, the real Philomena, and I found more about her life on the internet. Don’t look if you are going to see the movie…spoilers are everywhere.
Okay!
What a great review. I love Judi Dench as well. I hope to see this movie soon.
I do think you should! The real Philomena is still alive too – don’t look her up on the internet until you have seen the movie!