Based on the incredible true story of its protagonist, the 118-minute narrative is adapted
from his memoir, A Long Way Home. After accidentally boarding a train that transports him 1,000 miles away from his remote village, a small Indian boy is adopted by a loving Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, he uses modern technology to search for his lost family.
Dave Patel might be the obvious choice to play an Indian character in an Australian
language movie, but his portrayal is exemplary, balancing torment with stubborn determination. Sonny Parwar, meanwhile, is positively fantastic playing Patel's childhood counterpart in the movie's subtitled first half.
Beneath his adorable face and innocent behavior, he portrays this frightened and confused boy with true resilience.
Here is an absolutely unthinkable tragedy that no Western viewer could ever truly comprehend. But thanks to Patel and Parwar's delicate portrayal, and Davis's steadfast direction, we at least can appreciate a portion of what this ordeal would have been like. It also invites reflection upon your own memories.
Without proper nouns, how much could you accurately remember from a place you haven't been to since you were five years old?
Patel conveys this sense of helplessness well, and more than deserves his best supporting
actor nomination.
The PG-13 rated film's most effective scene is the one that usually never works, filming a character silently reading a computer screen.
But thanks to Dustin O'Halloran and Hoshuka's building score and deft editing, this Google
Earth montage is surprisingly powerful.
Lion is a gripping account of a heartbreaking true story with a very emotional climax.