Now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download is the Academy Award nominee for Best Picture – Lion. ‘
The film stars Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), David Wenham (300), and Nicole Kidman (The Hours). The film also stars newcomers Sunny Pawar and Abhishek Bharate.
Five year old Saroo loves to be involved with his older brother Guddu. The boys live with their single mother and baby sister in a tiny village in the middle of now where in India. Their mother struggles to put food on the table every night, so the boys do what they can to find work to bring home food, milk and money for their family.
One night Guddu was planning to leave to go to some work when Saroo insisted that he go with him. He shows Guddu how strong he is and that he can do a good job. Reluctantly, Guddu allows Saroo to tag along.
As the night went on Saroo was getting very tired. Guddu had to carry his little brother around, but that made it hard for him to get any work done. Guddu ended up leaving Saroo on a bench at a train station to get some sleep. He told Saroo to wait there and he’d come back for him when he was done working.
During the night Saroo woke up and was concerned about the whereabouts of his brother. He even went to look for him on a train that was “parked” at the station overnight.
Saroo accidentally fell asleep on the train. When he woke up the train was moving.
Saroo was in a panic. He had no clue where his brother was, or where the train was heading. Even worse, he didn’t know how he was going to find his way back to his mother.
Saroo finally got off the train in Calcutta, India – thousands of miles away from his home. Keep in mind he was only five years old too. He also didn’t speak the native language in Calcutta (he spoke a different Indian language).
Alone, afraid and hungry, Saroo did what he could to survive on the streets of Calcutta. A few times he escaped being captured by the authorities. Eventually his luck ran out and he ended up in a horrific orphanage.
Saroo was one of the lucky ones. He was eventually adopted by a lovely couple in Australia. He was afforded the life that he wouldn’t have had in India, including a college education.
Saroo never forgot his past and eventually he became consumed with the idea of going back to India to find his mother, brother and younger sister. He knew his mom must be wondering what happened to him and he didn’t want his brother to feel guilty about “losing” him.
What transpires next is his odyssey to figure out where he came from and how to find his family.
Will Saroo succeed? Will he find his birth family? If he does, will he move back to India? To find out the answers you need to pick up (or download) a copy of Lion. Look for it where ever movies are sold.
The Blu-ray and DVD bonus content includes Deleted Scenes, Behind the Scenes Gallery and “Never Give Up” Official Lyric Video performed by Sia.
I can see why this film was nominated for Best Picture. This is an amazing film – and it’s based on a TRUE STORY!
I loved this film. I could easily watch it again and again.
The young boy who played the young Saroo did an amazing job. For such a young boy, he pulled it off like a seasoned actor. This was his first acting role – ever. He didn’t even speak a word of English when he was cast in this role.
Even the cinematography was breath taking. Saroo (real speaking Sheru) truly lived in the middle of no where. And as an adult I don’t know how I could survive the streets of Calcutta, with no money and not speaking the language, let alone a five year old child.
The film is rated PG-13. I honestly didn’t see anything wrong with it except a suggestion that the main character had sex with his girlfriend (there was no actual nudity).
This is a great film. I cannot rave about it enough. I didn’t see all the Best Picture nominated films, but I did see a few and from what I saw, Lion should have walked away with the Oscar.
Did you see Lion? If so, what did you think of the film? Feel free to share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Below is the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.