Philomena, Movie Review

Review: 3.75 out of 5 Stars

What would you do if you lost the one thing that meant so much to you?

Philomena Lee, played beautifully by Judi Dench, the real person in which the movie "Philomena" is based, has felt a 50 year long sting.  50 years earlier she gave birth to a son in Ireland at a convent.  Since she wasn't married, she was forced to sign away her rights to her son, who was latter adopted.  She has never forgotten him, spending all this time looking for her son, keeping it a secret.  Then, on the day her son would have turned 50, Philomena can't hold it in any longer and finally tells her daughter.

Meanwhile Martin Sixsmith, played by Steve Coogan, a Labour government adviser, has just lost his job and is trying to find direction.  At a party Philomena's daughter overhears Martin talk about life's frustrations, and lack of direction, and decides to tell him about her Mother and having just heard about her adopted brother.  Martin doesn't like human interest stories, preferring Russian history, but he makes an exception.

"Philomena" is about the journey Philomena Lee and Martin embarks on, and what they discover along the way, which is incredible and terrifying.  This movie is by no means favorable towards the Catholic Church, which has been a complaint by some.  But the truth is the truth, and the truth is sometimes hard to bear.  What the nuns did to those girls who gave birth out of wedlock is horrible, making them "pay for their sins."  Many teenagers, some as young as 14, were unable to survive the labor.  There's a graveyard to the side of the convent that has grown over, hidden, burying mothers and children alike.  Then there's the manual labor the survives endured, only being allowed one hour visiting rights with their kids until the babies were sold off to wealthy Americans, communication severed.

This true story is based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, written by Martin Sixsmith.  The book, though I have never read it, apparently follows more closely the life of Philomena's son, whereas the movie shows everything from Philomena's perspective, a Mother's angst.  The truths uncovered are interesting and heartbreaking, but then I feel I give away too much if I write anymore.  I felt at times catching my breath as one thing or another was discovered.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 on appeal for some strong language, thematic elements and sexual references. (Way too many "F" words, or hints at "F" words for my liking.  I don't understand why audiences laugh at it.  The "F" word's not funny.  It's disgusting and degrading.)