Can Dame Judy Dench ever make a bad movie? After seeing her latest role in Stephen Frear’s emotional Philomena the answer is, absolutely not!
Undoubtedly one of this year’s highlights, Philomena is based on former BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith’s The Lost Child of Philomena Lee. The screenplay of Philomena is co-written and co-produced by British actor Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope.
We are taken back to Ireland in the 1950s, when pregnant, unmarried girls were shamed and see as “fallen women”. So young Philomena (here played by Sophie Kennedy Clark) is sent to the Catholic Convent Roscrea to pay her penance. She is shamed by the nuns for getting pregnant out of wedlock before giving birth to a son, Anthony, who she adores but who is taken from her and sold to an American couple for adoption. Naturally they return to the US and Philomena completely loses all contact with Anthony.
Fifty years later we meet Philomena again. Now played by Judy Dench, Philomena is a mother who has spent the last 50 years looking for her son. She meets weary and cynical former journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) who was a disgraced advisor to the Blair government. Sixsmith looks at her tale as an important human interest story, a thought endorsed by his editor Sally Mitchell (Michelle Fairley).
Naturally Sixsmith and Philomena begin sparring early on, but their great rapport brings convincing humour not unlike The Odd Couple. Sixsmith is a wry atheist and is initially annoyed by Philomena’s devout Catholic faith. He is frustrated that she is not angry about her past, but he soon realises her quiet determination is a gauge of her astounding strength.
Director Stephen Frear knows how to get the best out of his legendary leading ladies. Like he did with Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006), he is spoilt again with Judy Dench. It is also special to see the powerful bond that grows between Sixsmith and Philomena as they continue to Washington on their journey to find Anthony.
Philomena is a beautifully told story about a mother’s loss of her child and how the pain never really goes away. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys wry humour, seeing two very different people form a genuine bond and affection for each other.
Reviewed by Kirstey Whicker
Rating: 8
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