See it, even if you know the story

Rating: 8/10 (1 March 2017)

I saw the "60 Minutes" segment about the true story behind this movie and was thinking I would skip it for that reason, but given the good ratings it has gotten, I decided to give it a shot. I found the dramatization got me much more emotionally involved than the documentary.
This story of Saroo Brierly is presented in two parts, separated by 25 years. As the young Saroo, age five, the movie is immeasurably helped by the outstanding performance by the endearing Sunny Pawar. The risk of having a first time young actor carry half of a major movie paid off. It seems that the quality of child actors and young actors has improved impressively in recent years. I am thinking of the three kids in "The Tree of Life," for example.
The older Saroo is played by Dev Patel, who was nominated for an Oscar for actor in a supporting role. Nicole Kidman was nominated for best actress in a supporting role for her portrayal of Saroo's foster mother in Australia. The movie itself got a total of six Oscar nominations, so it comes with credentials.
This is somewhat of a travelogue with scenes being filmed in various places in India, West Bengal, and Australia (particularly Tasmania). The artful cinematography of Greig Fraser (also an Oscar nominee) adds much to the impact of the movie.
I think anyone who had a happy childhood and moved away from where he or she grew up always has nostalgia for the place of their beginning. With maturity also comes the desire to know one's ancestors, to know where you came from. Those two themes infuse this story to the extent that most audiences should be able to establish a strong emotional identification with Saroo.
Be sure to stay to the end where footage of the real life people is shown.