Philomena (Film)

• Judi Dench: Philomena
• Steve Coogan: Martin Sixsmith
• Michelle Fairley: Sally Mitchell
• Sophie Kennedy Clark: Philomena, young

Philomena is a British film directed by Stephen Frears, the director of The Queen, from the year 2013. Judi Dench plays the almost 70 -year-old Philomena Lee, who goes along with the journalist Martin Sixsmith on a search for her long lost son. The film tells a true story based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith. It was produced by BBC Films in collaboration with Pathé and has received eleven awards and seven nominations since its world premiere in August 2013. German film launch for Philomena was 27 Februar 2014.

Action

The retired nurse Philomena Lee confesses to her daughter that she had given birth to an illegitimate son 50 years ago. In that time devoutly Catholic Ireland unmarried mothers were often sent for the birth of the convent, then to work conscripted ( in order to pay the costs of delivery and to pay for their "sin" ), and released her child up for adoption - as well as her son Anthony. After Philomena has completed her four years of forced labor ( 7 day week) in the strict nuns, she leaves the convent and begin a new life. But every day she thinks of her first-born. On its 50th birthday, she decides to give up the silence, she tries to find her son - but without success.

At a party Philomenas daughter learns the former BBC reporter Martin Sixsmith know. After initial doubts, he agrees to accompany Philomena in her search for her son and to report it. At the same party Sixsmith met the chief editor of a tabloid magazine, which is promptly prepared to fund research and to publish the story.

A first visit to the monastery runs but sobering: Although the rules are now far less strict, but supposedly all adoption records were destroyed in a fire. In the village pub Sixsmith learns, however, that it had not acted in the fire was an accident, but a deliberate " camp fire " - apparently to destroy evidence. He also learns that the children were often taught to larger amounts of money in the United States.

Since Sixsmith hopes to build on old connections from his time as U.S. correspondent, he and Philomena travel to Washington. In fact, it turns out that Anthony - who was renamed after the adoption in Michael A. Hess - Careers as an advisor under Presidents Reagan and Bush senior. had made, but also that he was gay and died of AIDS in 1995.

Contrary Sixsmiths fears ( since he has to fulfill a contract with the tabloid magazine ) decides Philomena when they already can not meet in person her son, but to question so at least its environment. The deciding factor is the photo of a press conference, in which not only Philomenas son, but also Sixsmith are seen even as a correspondent. He is reminded how he what a positive impression he had Anthony / Michael then met at the White House and won. Philomenas interest is thus awakened, despite their grief.

The first point of contact is Anthony / Michael's adoptive sister Mary, who was then also adopted. Originally only Mary should be adopted, but since she and Anthony as infants were inseparable, were summarily both "sold".

The next contact is Anthony / Michael's former significant other Pete Olsson. Initially, the contact is difficult because Olsson can deny from his office. Worn down by the rejection Philomena would like to cancel the search, especially since her son had apparently never cared for his roots and his Irish ancestry. However Sixsmith falls on a photo a lapel pin in the shape of an Irish harp on: Philomenas son was aware of his origin so well aware. As Sixsmith is home representations to Olsson, he referenced the door; but Philomena to establish the contact manages. Together with Olsson they look at old videos and Super - 8 films, and Philomena and Sixsmith learned that Anthony / Michael had shortly before his death just visited that monastery in Ireland, where he was born, his birth mother to find. Moreover, in contradiction to his adoptive father, he was even buried there.

Philomena and Sixsmith travel back to Ireland and visit the monastery again. In an unguarded moment, Sixsmith provides access to the private area of the nuns and presents the now very old and at that time responsible sister Hildegard to task. This is like that time with no guilty feeling and refers to mothers of illegitimate children as sinners. Philomena arrives and forgives her - albeit with a heavy heart.

Publication

Philomena had its world premiere on 31 August 2013 at the International Film Festival in Venice. The film was released on 1 November 2013, the United Kingdom and came on 27 February 2014 in Germany in the cinemas.

Reviews

" Philomena, with the Stephen Frears returns to top form of his Queen, has the perfect balance of comedy and tragedy. "

" Philomena tells a fascinating story and good performances by the actors make the film definitely a recommendation. "

" [ ... ] Critics Verdict: Philomena is convincing not only with great protagonists, but also by a very good script, in which each formulation and development of the story is done. "

Awards

• Venice Film Festival Award: Best Screenplay (Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope)
• Toronto International Film Festival, People's Choice Award: 2nd place (Stephen Frears )
• SIGNIS Award (Stephen Frears )
• Leoncino d' Oro Agiscuola Award - Cinema for UNICEF (Stephen Frears )
• Brian Award (Stephen Frears )
• Queer Lion (Stephen Frears )
• Nazareno Taddei Award (Stephen Frears )
• Golden Mouse ( Stephen Frears )
• Vittorio Veneto Film Festival Award (Stephen Frears )
• INTERFILM Award (Stephen Frears )
• Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature (Stephen Frears )

Additional nominations

• Euro Cinema Hawai'i Award: Best Film (Stephen Frears )
• British Independent Film Award Best Film
• Best Screenplay (Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope)
• Best Actress ( Judi Dench )
• Best Actor (Steve Coogan )

• Best Motion Picture - Drama
• Best Actress - Drama ( Judi Dench )

• Best Picture
• Best British film
• Best Actress ( Judi Dench )
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope)

• Best Picture
• Best Actress ( Judi Dench )
• Best Original Score (Alexandre Desplat )
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope)