Starring: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
Director: Stephen Frears
Rating: 5/5
Philomena has already been one of the most talked about movies of the autumn as it has been lighting up the festival circuit wherever it has played. Now it is screening at the BFI London Film Festival, where it is winning even more fans.
The movie is based on the remarkable true life story of Philomena Lee (Dench) and her fifty year search for a child that was taken from her against her will.
She teams with journalist Martin Sixsmith to search for her son, only to uncover a dark secret along the way.
If you are worried that this is a movie that is all doom and gloom, then fear not because it isn’t. Of course, there are touching and heart-breaking moments but it is a movie that will also make you laugh out loud.
It is a tour de force performance from Judi Dench as she takes on the central role of Philomena Lee. She is a woman who has suffered a terrible injustice, and yet she sees life in a very beat and positive light: that just makes you like her and root for her even more.
I think people do forget how funny an actress Dench is, as we don’t see her take on too many comedy roles. And while this is not a comedy part, there are still some funny moments and great lines – most of them delivered with impeccable timing by Dench.
We are use to seeing Steve Coogan play the funny man in his movies, but Philomena sees him takes on the role of the straight man. Sixsmith is a man who is initially driven by getting the story, before getting swept away with Philomena’s tale and the woman herself.
Dench and Coogan make an excellent partnership – the odd couple that really shines when they share the screen together. They pair share very different opinions about life, love and religion, and yet this touching bond builds between them: it is almost like mother and son.
Coogan is not just on the cast list but has also penned the screenplay with Jeff Pope: this is the first time that they have written together.
While this is a devastatingly sad story, Coogan and Pope have really captured the spirit of Philomena – a woman that looks at life like a glass half full. They also capture for forgiving spirit: Philomena is willing to forgive those who have wronged her.
This forgiveness is something that Philomena and Martin do not see eye to eye on: Martin is furious at what has been done to this woman, while Philomena is willing to put it all in the past after she is finds the answers that she seeks. Their different ideologies is a really interesting aspect to this film.
Stephen Frears really has delivered a truly fantastic movie that is as uplifting and inspiring as it is heart-breaking. But the driving force really is this central relationship as the audience is taken on a fascinating journey with these great characters.
Dench is already being tipped as a major Oscar contender for this central performance, and it really would be fantastic to see her take home this major acting prize.
Philomena is out now.
Tagged in Dame Judi Dench Philomena