First, the Recap:
It is 1986 in Khandwa, India, and a 5-year old boy, Saroo (Sunny Pawar) lives a carefree though impoverished life with his older brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate), sister Shekila (Khushi Solanki), and single mother Kamla (Priyanka Bose). However, when insisting on accompanying Guddu on a trip to Burhanpur to beg for food and money, Saroo is separated from his sibling at the station, ending up on a train that transports him almost a thousand miles from home. Making attempts to survive the best he can on the unforgiving streets of Calcutta, circumstances ultimately place him with an adoptive couple, John & Sue Brierley (David Wenham & Nicole Kidman). Then, 25 years later, a now adult Saroo (Dev Patel) longs to find the family he lost as a new quest begins.
Worth Seeing: YES
The powerful human factor and heavily character-driven narratives found within the independent film arena are on full, affecting display in director Garth Davis’ and writer Luke Davies’ adaptation of Saroo Brierley’s true account novel “A Long Way Home”. A truly stunning performance from Pawar as the young Saroo dominates a large portion of the film followed by an equally stirring turn from Patel as the adult incarnation of the character whose yearning to find home again is both heartbreaking yet incredibly heartwarming. Excellent supporting turns from a fantastic ensemble cast including Bharate, Bose, Wenham, and Kidman along with Rooney Mara as Saroo’s girlfriend, Divian Ladwa as Saroo’s adoptive brother Mantosh, and a amazingly brief yet no less impactful appearance from Bollywood star Nawazuddin Siddiqui, are present in this formidable, compelling drama showcasing the strength of love and family.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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