PHILOMENA
2013,
The Weinstein Company,
98 min,
UK,
Dir: Stephen Frears
Decades after giving up a child to nuns for adoption, Philomena Lee (Judi Dench in a tour de force performance) travels to America to try to find her son. Journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan, who also co-wrote the screenplay), sensing a great human interest story, travels with her, and both make surprising discoveries along the way. PHILOMENA gives a dark chapter of recent Irish history a human dimension thanks to director Stephen Frears’ deft blend of drama and humor.