Movie Review: Lion (2016)
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Cast
Sunny Pawar (Young Saroo)
Abishek Bharate (Guddu)
Nicole Kidman (Sue Brierley)
David Wenham (John Brierley)
Dev Patel (Saroo Brierley)
Rooney Mara (Lucy)
Plot
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Sheru or Saroo is a lion.
In 1986, Five-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) is the nimble and strong kid. He lived in a poor family. Saroo and his brother, Guddu (Abishek Bharate) had to work to support their families. Their mother worked as a stone carrier.
One day, Saroo and Guddu wanted to work in the city. Guddu forbid Saroo, but Saroo kept insisting.
The story began when Saroo fell asleep in the train station. Guddu left Saroo there. But he advised Saroo to remain there. Saroo woke up and called Guddu. He was looking for Guddu everywhere. He was also looking into the train. Tired of searching, Saroo fell asleep on the train. When he woke up, the train runs. Saroo trapped in the train. He tried to get out, but to no avail. The train took him to Calcutta. A great distance from his hometown (16,000 km).
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In Calcutta, Saroo became homeless. He felt strange, because he did not understand Bengali. He just understood Hindi. He was survived by scavenging the leftovers. He was also managed to get out of danger. He kept running from the pursuit of people who want to sell him. The escape ended up in an orphanage.
Here, his life changed. After putting up announcements about lost children, no one has contacted Saroo. Finally, he was adopted by a family from Australia. Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley (David Wenham) is his parents in his new life. With them, Saroo grew into a smart kid, handsome and funny.
25 years later, adult Saroo (Dev Patel) studied hospitality management in Melbourne and in relationship with an American girl, Lucy (Rooney Mara). One day, his childhood memories back. He saw Jalebi in his friend party who originated from India. Jalebi reminded him to Guddu. How is his family there?
Lucy and her friends were concerned. Saroo became morose. A friend suggested Saroo to find his hometown with Google Earth. Saroo began looking for his family with the remnants of his childhood memories.
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My Review
The film is based on the true story successful to tell about Saroo. Even, Saroo praised the film's director, Garth Davies. "Nearly 90 percent were told not to deviate from that I wrote," said Saroo Brierley.
Film that moving poverty is not new. The strength in this film is Sunny Pawar. He managed to portray little Saroo naughty, funny, and strong like a lion cub. I was impressed with his acting.
Another feature is the choice of the director to use a realist approach to film and then mingling with surreal elements: adult Saroo saw Guddu, his brother everywhere. At every corner, at the top of the hill, on the train tracks, calling to him and even 'talk' with him.
The shadow of his brother who flashed and sweet jalebi in childhood was something that always made Saroo still felt to need hunt his identity to India, although he still claimed to be an Australian citizen. These scenes, where Saroo occasionally looked at his brother showed up and smiled at him, or took him down the railroad tracks sometimes felt real, even though the audience knows very well it is a shadow of longing.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://i.imgsafe.org/965c5b9878.jpg)
Sheru or Saroo is a lion. But Sunny Pawar is a lion cub who will roar in the cinema.
Sources:
Singa Itu Mencari Sang Ibu (film)
imdb.com (cover and last image)
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Thanks @screenname