Lion

[ladams888]

Saw this yesterday in the Vue Piccadilly Circus. A very moving, emotional and ultimately uplifting film, it traced the story of a five-year-old boy who got lost hundreds of miles away from his home and eventually ended up getting adopted in Australia. The first half dealt with five-year-old Saroo and how he ended up in that predicament; the second half was set twenty years later and covered Saroo’s search for his family in India. Dev Patel was wonderful as the older Saroo – the Australian Indian torn between his kind and loving adoptive parents and the search for his birth mother. Likewise Sunny Pawar was incredible as younger Saroo – at times he was so believable I almost thought I was watching a fly-on-the-wall documentary. I found my stiff upper lip trembling at many points in the film. I was wondering throughout the film why it was called Lion – only to find out at the very, very end. Will recommend it to everyone - 9/10 from me.

[RandomHajile]

9/10, packed shepherds bush couldnt stop the enjoyment of this film!

[baty]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Gosh hasn't he grown since the marigold hotel!
Quite an emotional story and was glad to see the real participants later in the credits. So many children going missing - 80,000, such a depressing fact. was holding the tears back at times. 8/10

[Bluebell]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Sunny Pawar is wistfully innocent and expressive as the young Saroo. He is destined for great things! Dev Pate,l as the adult Saroo, who painstakingly searches on Google Earth to find the little village where he was born, is wonderful as always. I loved the update and photos of the real characters at the end and it was lovely to see the meeting of Saroo's mums. It was so sad to discover that Saroo's brother was killed shortly after he left his little charge asleep on the platform. The pain that their mother must have felt at losing both her sons on the same night is unimaginable. A must see film. 8.5/10

[davewatts001]

Can anyone tell me why the person in the cafe window looked like Dev Patel? Even had the same moustache. I zoned out just then and awoke in Australia 25 years later! Was this some episode where Lion was seeing his future self eating soup? Or am I maybe reading too much into it. Also - did it just jump abruptly to Australia or did we see anything between the soup and then - the adoption process etc.?

You've missed quite a bit to be honest. Might be worth another watch at some point!

I took it that the person in the café was real and just felt a connection with/sympathy for the young homeless Saroo (who of course grows up to be Dev Patel). It's mirrored by a later scene where the adult Saroo is eating at a food court in Australia and sees a younger boy looking for scraps of food that have been left behind, which in turn (as best I recall) triggers further memories of Saroo's childhood in India.

Yes, the adoption process is covered. Sounds like you missed closer to 25 mins than 25 seconds.

[nosila50]

Absolutely loved this film. Totally engrossed from start to finish and such an amazing accomplishment to find his birth home from just the memory of his 5 year old self. Dev Patel was excellent and very hunky can I just say. Would love to read the book. Thoroughly recommend. 10/10

[akat78]

Watched at Islington, Great movie indeed, Dev and Nicole were remarkable as always but I was most amazed by the young actor who played Saroo. Very emotional film there were many tears in the cinema last night 7/10

[alythonian]

I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I turned up to see this. But, I'm glad I did.
The child who played young Saroo was brilliant and his face was so charismatic and engaging. This was heart wrenching from start to end but so well done, I was mesmerised. The only thing that spoilt it was the 2 old biddies sitting next to me who were giving each other a running commentary all the way through. I could quite happily have poured my tea over them?,
I really really enjoyed the film, yes you may need a box of tissues but it was inspirational and Dev Patel dud a great Aussie accent and a great job of carrying the film through.
8/10

[Noorjahapatel]

I loved this film, especially little Saroo, Ghuddu, Nicole Kidman (nearly all the cast really). I absolutely hate the conditions humans allow. There are some awful people in this world but also some amazingly good people. Also, some very tough and resilient people that make it and others that unfortunately don't. It reminded me of Slumdog Millionaire. I loved the real footage at the end. 2nd film I've cried in a long time (the first was I, Daniel Blake). I thoroughly recommend watching it. It's heartbreaking!

Manchester Printworks was full!

10/10

Again, thanks to Betty Botter for the tickets

[elski]

Can anyone tell me why the person in the cafe window looked like Dev Patel? Even had the same moustache. I zoned out just then and awoke in Australia 25 years later! Was this some episode where Lion was seeing his future self eating soup? Or am I maybe reading too much into it. Also - did it just jump abruptly to Australia or did we see anything between the soup and then - the adoption process etc.?

You've missed quite a bit to be honest. Might be worth another watch at some point!

I took it that the person in the café was real and just felt a connection with/sympathy for the young homeless Saroo (who of course grows up to be Dev Patel). It's mirrored by a later scene where the adult Saroo is eating at a food court in Australia and sees a younger boy looking for scraps of food that have been left behind, which in turn (as best I recall) triggers further memories of Saroo's childhood in India.

Yes, the adoption process is covered. Sounds like you missed closer to 25 mins than 25 seconds.

the boy in the food court was his brother so I thought he'd imagined it.

I wanted to know what the purpose of his mother moving rocks around for a job was. were they for building materials? or was there something else in the stones they were collecting?