There are those movies that you want to see, others you feel
obligated to see and some that fall into both categories. PHILOMENA falls into
both categories, a sad tale that offers hope before the end of the film, a
movie that inspires you to be a better person, to be like Philomena. Would that
we could all achieve that goal.
The movie opens with Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a
battle hardened political journalist caught up in controversy and looking for
work. At a party he goes to a friend tells him to contact her should he ever
decide to write a piece for her magazine. He also finds himself introduced to a
woman who tells him he should meet her mother. Not expecting to find much
interesting he agrees.
When they first meet Martin is unimpressed with Philomena
(Judi Dench), an elderly woman who wants him to help her with a quest. When she
was a young girl in Ireland, Philomena found herself pregnant but unmarried.
With no way to support herself she was sent to have the child and work for the
nuns at Sean Ross Abbey. While she is told ahead of time what will happen, it
still comes as a shock for her. Children born out of wedlock in this Abbey are
sold off to American couples looking for children. What makes it horrifying is
that the girls are allowed to nurse their children and spend time with them
prior to their being taken away. Now some 50 years later Philomena turns to
Martin to help her find her son.
Martin isn't interested at first but the more he thinks
about it, the deeper his interest grows. If nothing else he can get a story out
of it. Contacting the magazine editor he met at the party he gets funding and
he and Philomena set out to find her son. Their initial contacts in the Abbey
lead to nothing but stonewalling and being informed that the records of all the
children were burned in a fire some years back. Unwilling to settle for their
replies Martin digs deeper until he discovers a leak that leads the pair to the
U.S.A. Unfortunately the information they find isn't quite what they expected
or hoped for.
What makes this movie special isn't just the lead in story.
The movie explores the relationship between Martin and Philomena, two
completely different people from two totally different backgrounds. The posh
world that Martin comes from is filled with superficial people who consider
themselves above it all, especially when it comes to religion. Philomena, on
the other hand, retains her faith in God after all that has happened to her in
the past. A salt of the Earth character, her attitudes toward the world around
her are to see the wonder of it all where as Martin takes it all for granted.
Before their journey ends Martin will find his life changed forever.
Coogan not only stars in the film, he helped write it as
well. While not a known mega-star in the U.S., he is a big name in England.
Some will recognize him from his roles in both NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM films. He
turns in a wonderful performance here, showing his disdain for common people
and being taken to task for that from Philomena. Dench is absolutely fantastic
in the lead role, bringing a sense of amazement to the character as she
observes her surroundings while trying to settle the heartbreak she has
suffered through for all these years.
If anything this film will tear at your heart with the whole
story of the Catholic Church selling babies back in the 50s. It will anger you.
But it will also make you realize that it is people who make poor decisions not
organizations. This was a small group that made this decision, not the entire
church. At the same time in today's times it's hard to imagine a world where
young people have no idea how they will become pregnant and are stunned when it
happens. It only makes the loss they experience that much sadder.
Even with such a sad story there is much hope to be found in
the experiences of both Martin and Philomena. Both of them walk away from the
tale much wiser and closer than they were when they began this journey. The
answer is found and just what that is I won't reveal. I would whole heartedly
suggest though that you watch the film to find out. No guns, no explosions, no
monsters or superheroes...just a movie about real people. In particular a movie
about one true hero and that is Philomena. .
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