Gut wrenching story of separation & re-union

Rating: 9/10 (12 March 2017)

Lion was famously & deservedly nominated for Best Picture at the Academy and numerous other story, screenplay, direction and performance awards. But all these, and especially Oscar nominations raise a big question – Is this going to be another one of those dreary art films where you walk out depressed wishing you never watched it, yet feel the need to appreciate it for being an Oscar nominated movie? No. Lion is not only beautifully shot, it has authenticity, drama, mystery and romance which make it a wholesome entertainer.
Lion tells the heart wrenching tale of a lost child from India and the extremely real horrors faced by orphan and homeless children like starvation and trafficking which scar them for life. Today, searching for something or someone is almost so easy that we have too many options or privacy concerns. The film also makes you think how today we take several privileges like food, shelter, safety & technology for granted while there are billions of starving children and families living on less than $1/day. It is unbelievable that there are extraordinary families like Sue & John Brierley; true heroes who decided to adopt two children from India and give them a fighting chance in the world. A true story of separation, imperfection, family, love and closure - that needed to be told.
Sunny Pawar perfectly portrays innocence and despair of 'Saroo', and manages to look cute despite the homeless kid makeup. Nicole Kidman & Rooney Mara deliver poignant supporting roles, while Nawazuddin Siddiqui makes a surprising, eerie guest appearance onto international cinema. Dev Patel shows tremendous growth as an actor and expertly portrays the guilt and the yearning of a mature 'Saroo' who longs to find his roots and re-unite with his family. From a script standpoint, I would have liked a less dramatic; more realistic transition from Saroo's normal life overseas to his search to find closure. Technically, the film shows almost flawless direction and editing. Definitely watch the movie and find out why it's called 'LION'.