Lion (2016) – 8.5/10 – Inspiring, heartwarming film you have to watch
Each year, over 80,000 kids go missing in India, and over 11 million kids live on the streets. This true story film focuses on one such young boy named Saroo, who went missing in 1986 while traveling with his older brother, Guddu. At just five years old, uneducated, and from a poor single mother, Saroo finds himself lost over 1,200 kilometers away from home in a country of a billion people. He didn’t know his last name or the correct town name where he came from, leaving no hope for anyone to help him find his way back. He ends up in an orphanage in Calcutta, where an Australian couple, John (David Wenham) and Sue (Nicole Kidman), adopt him. Saroo (Dev Patel) grows up with only glimpses of his childhood in India. However, an old memory triggers one day, causing him to recollect some of those times. His friends and his girlfriend, Lucy (Rooney Mara), convince him to look deeper into it. One thing leads to the other, and 25 years later, he finds himself obsessed with trying to find his mother, brother, and sister halfway across the world using Google Earth.
‘Lion’ is truly an inspiring, heartwarming film. Cerebral writing, authentic acting, smart directing, rich cinematography, sharp editing, a suitable soundtrack, and the camerawork amazed me. The atmosphere feels accurate in both locations with stunning visuals. The first half of the film takes place in India (Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal), and the second half in Australia (Tasmania). You get drawn into the story and become completely lost in it. I can’t say enough about the sensational acting. The young boy, Sunny Pawar, who plays Saroo in the flashback, is talented in his limited dialogue acting. Dev Patel takes over 25 years later, and you feel a smooth continuum between the two. The other actors, including Kidman, Wenham, and Mara, Priyanka Bose (who plays Saroo’s mother Kamla), and Abhishek Bharate (who plays Guddu), were outstanding in supporting roles. The ending is gut-wrenching and touching, and I expect most people to tear up. I’m still amazed that the real Saroo found his way through everything and lives up to his true name—this won’t make sense to you until you watch the film.
Would I recommend this? Yes, I would highly recommend this film. It’s an emotional film that tugs at your heartstrings, but uplifting. It feels original and fresh, which is something I’m always searching for. ‘Lion‘ reminded me so much of Slumdog Millionaire – not because Dev Patel stars in both or because of slums in both – but the feel it left me with. I think this film will stay with you long after you watch it.