Philomena is based on a non-fiction book, The Lost Child of Philomena
Lee, by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith. It’s a story about an Irish woman played
by Judi Dench who had her child taken away from her by force by catholic nuns. Her
journey to find her son captivated me – her visits to the convent where she
lived as a teenager, her travel to the U.S and the people she met along the way. Her son’s journey to find his mom, his desire to get back to his roots
and his search for happiness touched my heart.
Not a fan of drama, I wasn’t
sure if I wanted to see this movie, but I’m glad I did and I highly recommend it.
I loved the character of Martin Sixsmith played by Steve Coogan. He was funny, snobbish,
rude, kind, realistic and persistent. An astute observer, Martin is determined
to find the truth behind all the cover up. After all who would dare question
the sanctity of elderly nuns who devoted their entire life to doing good or so
it seemed. But soon the walls crumble, the façade is punctured and the truth is
revealed.
The story is so much bigger than Philomena. It is about a government
that failed her. It is about religious establishments that will make every possible
effort to brainwash their students and forbid them to think for themselves and
ask questions. The nuns are brainwashed into thinking that having a child out
of wedlock is a sin and that you must be punished for your sin. At times, Philomena
is like a doormat - she doesn’t like to raise her voice and doesn’t want to step
on any toes in order to seek the truth. Even though she knows the nuns did her wrong,
she still has a difficult time accepting that they destroyed her life in
exchange for money.
Towards the end of the story, Philomena tells Martin that
don’t blame the new nuns and the establishment. They have changed. But have
they? I think they are forced to change because today they must abide by civil
laws. If there were no civil laws and all government was guided by religious
laws, we would all be in big trouble. The only way to protect the innocent is
to have separation of church and state.
