Lion

Despite my thick skin, I found “Lion” profoundly touching. It makes you want to cry tears of sadness and of joy.

While accompanying his older brother to work, young Saroo (Sunny Pawar in a magnificent first role) becomes lost. Eventually adopted by an Australian couple (Naomi Watts and David Wenham as Sue and John Brierly), the boy grows up far from his family. 25 years later, Saroo (now played by Dev Patel) begins searching.

At times, it's tough to watch "Lion". You’re placed in Saroo’s shoes as he wanders the streets in a foreign city, trying to communicate with people that don’t speak the only language he knows. What I like here is that the film never tells you exactly what is happening when Saroo meets unsavory characters or temporary refuge. He’s a kid so he doesn’t truly grasp what is happening around him, but you do. For the first half of “Lion”, you’re like a parent watching son as he tries to find his way back to you. Once that second half kicks in you’re so relieved that the street urchin stuff is over, but at the same time, you want to weep. Yes, the immediate danger has passed, but how will he find his family?

Once that first," Oliver Twist"-like chapter is over, the film is no less engaging. When the characters speak to each other, their conversations do not feel scripted. Legitimate emotions and ideas about adoption come up. Once again, you become Saroo. You want him to find out what happened to his family. At the same time, you can’t help but be wary. How could this story have a happy ending? If he even finds answers to his questions, how will they affect his life and family? I’m making it sound like you’ll be bawling your eyes out but there’s hope here. It’s faint but you can see it on the horizon. That keeps you going all the way to the end.

Thanks to the strong performances you understand these people inside and out; you’re fully immersed in their story. I thought I was going to be able to walk away emotionally unscathed and then BAM! That ending comes in. It’s then followed by a mid-credit sequence you won’t want to miss. Is it the best film of the year? Not for me. Being a true story makes the film just the tiniest bit predictable and to be honest, recent political activity in the U. S. has put me in a sour mood. I’m not as enthusiastic for a nice story as I’d normally be. Nonetheless, the performances, the way it immerses you in its characters and the way it delicately balances the joy and the sorrow within this true-life tale makes “Lion” a great way to spend time at the movies. (Theatrical version on the big screen, January 28, 2017)