LION

Movie Review #1965 LION
 
Compelling tale based on truth of a small Indian boy, Saroo, who after insisting he be taken along by his elder brother, finds himself lost in the hellhole that is Calcutta.
 
Having been to the aforementioned hellhole I can attest to the unlikeliness of a small kid staying alive on its streets but this he does. Encountering child welfare, child traffickers and other unscrupulous characters, he ends up in an orphanage where he is adopted by an Australian couple, played by Kiwi David Wenham and Aussie darling Nicole Kidman.
 
Growing up “Strine” along with a troubled younger adopted brother, Saroo ties his kangaroo down sport and grows into a fine young man who soon hankers to find his roots and family back in mother India. Rooney Mara plays Saroo's love interest Lucy and while rocky, their relationship does help give him the strength he needs to embark upon his voyage of discovery.
 
Fine performances all round especially Ms Kidman although a pity her role is supporting only. Screenplay flicks nicely between the streets of Calcutta to Aussie suburbia and back again without skipping a beat and the script allows a simple transition without changing tone as is all too easy in this type of movie. Overall an 8.5/10 and well worth a look.
 
Geoff Horne