Such a Catholic name. Such an Irish name. I’ve known a few Philomena’s – a nun at school, the sister of a friend. I mix in these circles, these are my people. This is a film about Catholics. About Ireland. About nuns. What a terrible tale it is. But told with restraint and humour. Very economical storytelling. You get Martin Sixsmith’s back story before the credits finish. The gun political journalist, fallen from grace. Desperate to do something, anything. Even a human interest story for the social pages. And Philomena’s situation is established quickly and with a minimum of fuss. A prayer, a photo, a tear. I loved this understatedness – which continues the whole way. There are gaps and silences you have to fill in for yourself. A heart rending scene of Philomena in the confessional of a country church struggling, and failing, to give voice to what she’s feeling. We’re never told directly, but we know it in our hearts, because we’re enmeshed in this journey of hers. And we feel her pain.
I’m not a big fan of Steve Coogan but think he’s terrific here. And he’s had a big role in producing and writing this film – well done for bringing it to us. He’s no white knight rushing in and fixing things for Philomena. He can use a computer, has connections, can open doors. Without him she could not have managed. But his role is not over-stated. He’s there to keep her on track. His cynicism rings true – he could write this story before they start, identifying the goodies and baddies his editor wants. He never loses that hard edge but he’s softened by his exposure to Philomena. His reaction to what they discover reflects the audience’s emotions more readily than does Philomena’s.
Judy Dench was, well, Judy Dench! She’s been in so many films in recent years – and wonderful in all of them – it’s a bit hard to see her as any character other than herself. And someone pointed out to me after I’d seen the film that she’s much older than the real Philomena. Didn’t matter. She was fantastic at evoking the depth of emotion needed here. Such complex, various feelings confront her at different times during this search for a son. Recognizing the sort of life he’d had in America and comparing it to what he might have had in Ireland, with her. She’s a realist is Philomena. Prepared to confront reality rather than myth. But she wants the truth – all of it. She wants the truth more than the nuns and their vaunted religious values want it. And what a harsh truth it is. Long shots of her face struggling with the enormity of what was done to her, what was done to her son. A great scene towards the end was Mandela-esque I thought. How could she forgive these nuns? This church?
I read someone who thought the odd couple schtick wore out it’s welcome but I didn’t think so. They were different people from different classes and that point was made, but not overdone. And the humour it engendered was welcome, breaking the tension from time to time. Philomena’s taste in books and her retelling of them was fun. Friendliness to strangers, unfamiliarity with non-budget airlines, flash hotels. Fun and a break from the search at hand.
I loved the young Philomena who we saw in honey toned flashbacks from time to time. At the fair being chatted up – so sweet but you knew it would end in tears. Then enclosed in the convent: having her baby, at work the laundry, snatching moments with her rosy cheeked boy, watching with dread through the high window the approach of the big black car, and seeing it drive away with her rosy cheeked boy in the back. Showed the kindness of some nuns (handing over a forbidden photo), the bitter hostility of others.
The search is a roller coaster ride. Quite early on you think they’ve discovered the answer. Well that’s that then, you think. But she wants to learn some more. Then you think again, That’s it, they’ve found their answer. But still there’s more to learn. And the depth of the deception is revealed in all it’s unctuousness.
Here’s the link to the trailer.
It’s such a compelling story you want to google the real one the minute you get home. Which I did. Yes, his name really was Sixsmith and yes he did work for Blair. And yes, what they discovered in America was real. And I found
this, an interview with the real Philomena.
Location:Philomena
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