Philomena Review
By David Kempler
What Happened to Anthony?
When you see the words "Based in truth" or "Based on a true story" appear at the beginning of a film, it lends an air of authenticity but it creates questions as to just how close what you are about to see is to actuality. Steven Frears's "Philomena" makes use of this ploy, and I would love to know how close to the truth this one is, but I have decided not to find out in this case because it makes for an interesting tale, and I don't want to find out that it is near totally made up.
As it is presented here, Philomena (Judi Dench) is an elderly Irish woman who wants to go back to find out the realities and results of an act that was perpetrated upon her fifty years earlier. Through flashbacks - there are loads of them throughout here - we learn that as a teenager she met a young man at a carnival and had sex with him between buildings. This was how she lost her virginity and because she had led such a sheltered life until then, she had no idea how this moment would affect the rest of her life.
Philomena became pregnant and her parents sent her off to a convent in shame. Apparently this was not an unusual practice at that time and place. There she gave birth. That's when it gets particularly troubling. The common practice of this particular convent is to turn around and sell the children a few years after their birth. The scene where her son, Anthony, is taken to a car and driven off by another couple is understandably melodramatic; it's a heartbreaker.
Flash forward fifty years and Philomena becomes curious what became of her son, to the point where she is driven to find out. Before you start wondering why it took her so long to take action, you should know that under these particular circumstances, Philomena was forced to sign paperwork stating that she had given up all rights to her child and that she agreed to never seek out his whereabouts. All of the young mothers at the convent signed the same paperwork.
She is put in touch with Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a journalist who has recently lost his prestigious job to see if he can somehow help her. Martin is a "serious" journalist and is at first repulsed by the idea of doing a human interest story. It is beneath a man of his stature. The reality of his needing work overcomes his initial lack of disdain, and the rest of "Philomena" is about the quest to uncover what occurred after the day Anthony was taken from his mother.
The contrast between the two main characters is quickly established. Philomena is not bitter. She is just curious. She is still very deeply religious and bears no malice towards the convent. She forgives them their transgressions. Martin is a fire-breathing atheist who is appalled by the whole situation. Together, they form a typical movie odd couple, their differing personalities constantly butting heads, but never with malice. They disagree about almost everything but they show each other respect.
Where the investigation leads is better off not revealed here. It is such an amazing sequence of events that I want to believe it is completely true. Otherwise, I would look at it less impressed than I was, and I was very impressed by all of it. The performances are wonderful, especially that of Ms. Dench's (but when isn't she great?). There were a few too many flashbacks for my taste, and at times it all took on an air of too much melodrama, but every time I thought it might go too far in that direction, the director re-grounded it.
"Philomena" is absolutely worth seeing. It touches all of your emotions and still leaves you unable to fully understand Philomena's psyche, and I like that aspect of it. Her belief system is so foreign to ours and while it is frustrating to watch her at times, you never lose respect for her or dislike her.
