A Sort of Homecoming - Poignantly beautiful; heartbreakingly uplifting - one of the year's best.

Rating: 10/10 (23 January 2017)

LION (2016) **** Sunny Pawar, Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Abhishek Bharate, Priyanka Bose, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Deepti Naval, Davian Ladwa. Heartbreakingly poignant and devastatingly uplifting true-life account of a 5 year old Indian boy (a remarkable Oscar-worthy turn by newcomer Pawar that will melt your soul) who is accidentally lost from home hundreds of miles away and his incredible journey attempting to reunite with his beloved family. Filmmaker Garth Davis carefully concocts this taut tale about redemption, the power of the human spirit and love conquering all - tropes sure but they work! - and the screenplay by Luke Davies based on Saroo Brierley's biographical book "A Long Way Home" inspires as it unspools with affirmation of what love really means. Kidman gives a truly strong supporting performance equal of an Oscar as well as Patel as the adult lost boy whose pain for 20 yrs is so palpable you feel it in every withering glance and sigh. One of the year's best film and a must see.