Movie Review: Lion (2016)

Title: Lion

Director: Garth Davis

Based on: "A Long Way Home" by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose

Casts: Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, David Denham, Nicole Kidman

Another movie that will leave you speechless. Lion, a debut drama movie directed by Garth Davis. Received six oscars nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Patel), Best Supporting Actress (Kidman), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Lion is based on a true story of Saroo Brierley.  Back in 1986, in Khandwa, India. Saroo was five years old. He was poor yet happy.  Yes, they tried to enjoy everything and be happy with what they got. Saroo and his brother, Guddu, stole coal from a freight train in order to trade it for milk and food then shared it with the whole family members including his sister and his mother. One day Saroo  followed his brother, Guddu to work. As a little boy, he felt tired and fell a sleep while his brother continued to work.  When he was awake, he tried to find Guddu even until he boarded to a train and finally felt asleep again. Then he's awake to find that the train was moving. After several days, he arrived in Calcutta, 1500 miles from his home. Confused and scared, he survived through lots of challenges until he was luckily adopted by an Australian couples who raised him with unlimited love and care in Tasmania, Australia.

After 25 years, Saroo started to get restless. He felt the urge to find his root and to meet his mother.  By using Google Earth, he started another journey to find his family in India. 

A very touching movie. Love everything there. The young Saroo, Sunny Pawar, played his best. He's  very natural. The setting of Calcutta and Tasmania show a very contrast situation. But both have their own uniqueness. Several touching moments are also there. One of the epic moments was when Saroo talked with his adopting mother, Sue (played awesomely by Kidman).  

Saroo: I am sorry that you don't have any natural children.

Sue: What did you say? Your father and I are not infertile. We can have children but we chose not to. Why? Because we want to help children in need like you through adoption. We felt that there were already too many people on earth.

Dear God, only people with big hearts can do such things. Beside Saroo, Sue and his husband also adopted another Indian boy. 

In India now, there are 80,000 children go missing each year and over 11 millions children are living on the streets. the foundation of #LionHeart launched a program to provide financial support for these less fortunate children.

A highly recommended movie. Prepare tissue when you watch it. 

Find more about the movie here.