Philomena

2013 brought us many great movies…movies about hatred, drugs and greed; people lost in space and men who fall in love with computers.   
 But there was one little gem a few folks might have missed, & a 2013 Best Picture nominee,  a movie called Philomena.

Dame Judy Dench once again shines in a heartbreaking movie based on the true story of Philomena Lee and the Catholic Church who betrayed her. 

For over 50 years, Philomena bravely held a secret -  a son she had given birth to in a convent, where cruel nuns baptized her in shame. She and other unwed mothers were treated like convicts, but the worst punishment came once their toddler children were torn from them & adopted out to rich American families, without their knowledge.


Philomena garners Dench her 7th Oscar nomination, and her best role in years.

 Philomena Official Trailer

In search of her son, Philomena connects with Martin Sixsmith, played by actor Steven Coogan.  He agrees to help find her son in exchange for permission to publish her story.   Freshly out of work following a political scandal, he considers human-interest stories like Philomena’s to be beneath him.    

Sixsmith,  a self proclaimed atheist, can’t understand why Philomena keeps her faith despite the horrific things the church did to her and her now lost son.  He becomes increasingly angry as he uncovers more and more injustice;  seemingly driven by anger and resentment.  Philomena in contrast remains hopeful and kind.

Their traveling time together allows Philomena to bore Sixsmith by reading from romance novels, and he acts like he can barely tolerate them. In the end, we are left wondering if  Philomena reads them for the happily-ever-after she may never get. And he listens for that very same reason.

In search of a son she lost 50 years ago, she may or may not find him, but she most certainly found another man who will never, ever forget their journey or the lessons in forgiveness and hope even an atheist couldn't ignore.