Lion (Blu-ray) – Movie Review
Although the quality of life has increased in certain countries, for some it might seem that time stood still. In some areas in India for instance there is still a lot of poverty which didn’t change in comparison with the past. In Lion, we can follow the road a young man took to find his family after all those years. Even more, it was based on a true story, making it even more special.
Life isn’t always that easy and that is surely something the young Saroo (Sunny Pawar) had to endure. He led a happy life with his mother Kamla (Priyanka Bose), his brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate) and sister Shekila (Khushi Solanki). He went on wild adventures with his big bro, ‘scavenging’ some coal to earn something extra so they were able to buy milk. Their mother tried her best to give her children the love and food they need but this isn’t always as easy. To help their mom, Guddu goes on a nightly trip to get some extra dough. Saroo wants to help, although they had to babysit on their little sister. Eventually, they go to the nearby train station and while his brother is going to look for a job, our young boy can rest on a bench. When he wakes up, Guddu isn’t back yet and he starts his search which leads him to an empty train. Eventually, he is trapped on this moving prison, far away from his relatives.
Being alone and lost in the big city of Calcutta, he tries to survive on the streets. No one seems to understand him as he speaks only Hindi. During this time period he has to witness some rather brutal events until he eventually is able go to the authorities. They try to find his family with the info he was able to provide and in the meanwhile he can stay in an orphanage. After an unsuccessful search, he is adopted by the Brierley family (Nicole Kidman, David Wenham) from Tasmania. This change is a gift from above as he has the best of times as Saroo Brierley (Dev Patel) but eventually he wants to get back to his roots.
The movie goes through several stages of Saroo’s life, from the beginning with his family to the slums, his time in the orphanage and the relationship with Lucy (Rooney Mara) together with all his efforts to find his family. Although it might go a bit too slow at times and some of the parts could be deemed unnecessary, the movie shows the different emotions both Saroo and his friends and family are going through, how they react on certain actions of the protagonist and so on. If you’re looking for action, you better not start this tale as this drama will pull some heartstrings.
Of course, making something that will emotionally touch you deeply requires some great acting. Not only Nicole Kidman and David Wenham, some of the biggest actors, but especially Dev Patel can take you on a journey without even saying a word. The emotions that are written all over his face are enough to understand immediately what he’s going through. The other actors in the movie help with this feeling and make it one harmonious entity, making it a pleasure to watch.
The movie itself isn’t something light to watch as there are a lot of things going on. It would have been nice if there were some extras added, like how the director tackled certain aspects of Saroo’s life or a trip to all the places you see during this biography. It kind of feels as a missed opportunity, as it could really give the movie more depth.
Conclusion
Lion is movie you have to watch when you’re in the mood for some drama while venturing in the depths of your emotions. With the acting skills of Nicole Kidman, David Wenham and especially the lead Dev Patel you’re in for an emotional rollercoaster. Some parts might take a bit too long but the complete package is certainly good to watch.
Lion (Blu-ray) - Movie Review,
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