Philomena

Locations
Call Number: DVD Drama Philomena
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Pittsfield Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD Drama Philomena	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD Drama Philomena	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Drama Philomena	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Drama Philomena	1-week checkout	Due 04-01-2024

Based on a true story and the adaptation of the 2009 book "The lost child of philomena Lee."
Originally released as a motion picture in 2013.
Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Mare Winningham, Michaelle Fairley, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Simone Lahbib.
"Based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, PHILOMENA focuses on the efforts of Philomena Lee (Dench), mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock--something her Irish-Catholic community didn't have the highest opinion of--and given away for adoption in the United States. In following church doctrine, she was forced to sign a contract that wouldn't allow for any sort of inquiry into the son's whereabouts. After starting a family years later in England and, for the most part, moving on with her life, Lee meets Sixsmith (Coogan), a BBC reporter with whom she decides to discover her long-lost son."
DVD, Widescreen; Dolby Digital.
Contents: Lost child of Philomena Lee.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Interesting submitted by 23lisq on June 16, 2014, 10:41pm Great acting. Interesting story.

I wish it weren't true submitted by sara on July 19, 2014, 5:36pm The movie was much sadder than I expected. It's horrible to see how unwed mothers were treated not so long ago by the church in Ireland.

Philomena submitted by mk31 on July 27, 2014, 7:36pm Very interesting movie based on a true story. Dench and Coogan are fantastic.

Philomena submitted by hcf on August 30, 2014, 10:37pm Oh this movie really grew on me. It was slowly paced but it was so well done.

<3 submitted by ginarae3 on June 13, 2015, 8:46am I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, I recommended it!

Lovely and heartwarming... submitted by Kikumatsu97 on June 22, 2015, 7:04pm Not at all the boring old people movie you'd think it might be.

Philomena submitted by SBNB on July 5, 2015, 2:55pm This is a wonderful telling of a heartbreaking story. I was close to tears.

kinda slow... submitted by bookher on July 17, 2015, 5:33pm good movie but you need to be in the mood for a sad one!

Judi Dench playing a low-born woman submitted by Pookie on August 13, 2015, 12:45pm Most of Mme. Dench's roles have been women of some substance. In this movie, she plays more of a commoner and pulls it off very nicely. The interaction between the lofty-minded reporter and the lowly Irish Catholic is very well done.

2014 BAFTA Award Winner submitted by B00kw0rm on August 22, 2016, 12:40am "Philomena" is based on one woman's true story of indentured servitude and forced adoption/child trafficking in the Irish Catholic Church of the 1950s. As an unwed teenage mother, Philomena (played by Judi Dench) is compelled to work as a laundress at Roscrea Abbey--where an arrangement is eventually made to relinquish her son for adoption. 50 years later, she attempts to find her son with the assistance of reporter Martin Sixsmith (played by Steve Coogan.)

Steve Coogan is probably best known for his English and American comedy roles--but here, he plays the initially-reluctant reporter believably straight. Coogan also contributed production and writing skills to this film: The script (co-authored by Coogan and Jeff Pope,) won BAFTA's Best Adapted Screenplay Award for 2014; and a corresponding Oscar nomination. (The film was also nominated for three further Oscar slots.)

Both Coogan and Dame Judi Dench provide subtle comic relief from the inevitably wrenching aspects of the story. They are in experienced hands with direction by Stephen Frears. Abundant plot twists in the third quarter had me struggling to keep up for 10 minutes or so, but this is perhaps appropriate for a moderately suspenseful, dramatic exposé.

Great submitted by leenajong on August 13, 2017, 8:11pm Great story... and sad.

Good movie submitted by salasd on August 5, 2018, 9:45pm Very good and surprising movie. I wasnt sure what to expect but judy dench is so great and it seems to me based on a true story.

Loved it! submitted by Xris on August 19, 2021, 11:57pm I loved that they took a true story and made it into this film. It's amazing that they found Philomena's son and how it came full circle. I read The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys, which was about children being sold by nuns to Americans, but from Spain. So this movie intrigued me in the same way as that book, why people do some things. Great movie!