Nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture category, Lion, Garth Davis' first film, directed by Dev Patel, tells the incredible story of an Indian child who will see his life take an unexpected turn. Completely shunned by the Academy, the feature film is nevertheless considered by some as the new Slomdog Millionaire.
A classicism that allows the establishment of deep feelings:
Lion is very classic, considered by its detractors as a simple Oscar movie, a melody that plays with the feelings of the average spectator. In a way, this argument is worthwhile. Leo never takes risks, he just puts the form and tone to touch his audience. The story is straight, without much surprise or reversal of situation. But yet, it is this simplicity that gives Leo its identity. Garth Davis' first film, Lion does not border on genius but allows to highlight spontaneous and deep feelings. Worn by the young Sunny Pawar, absolutely exceptional, the whole first part that takes effect in India is the most successful. The filmmaker is not afraid to stage the precarious situation of a country dominated by certain social castes, and goes as close as possible to a general misery via this young child, beautiful, strong, intelligent and brilliantly interpreted.
Then follows the loss of belonging, also well treated, of this young child who will lose all bearings, all his family, to land in a foster family in Australia, whose mother is played by Nicole Kidman. All this study of the young boy during his thousands of kilometers traveled is undoubtedly the best part of the film. Offering a presentation of India closer to the truth, visually beautiful, in the tradition of Slumdog Millionaire, this half of the film reaches perfection and pours a greater dose of empathy in view of the presence of a child.
A second less powerful part:
When Dev Patel takes over in the second part, presenting the child 25 years later, in his condition as a young worker, the film loses its flavor. The protagonist will be touched by the classic desire to know his origins and reject his loving host family. A feeling of curiosity brought without really flavor, where the character suddenly will say: "hold but if I went to look for my origins". Still, despite some scripting facilities, all the research is well presented. The contradictory feelings that animate the protagonist are also put forward with tact and intelligence, presenting the two arguments of this difficult choice: return to his origins without a certificate of success or stay with his host family to avoid disappointing and rejecting it.
This opposition of will is rather well represented, especially thanks to the character of Nicole Kidman , an intelligent, open-minded and loving character. What follows is a gripping return to the origins, a notion of belonging stronger than anything, stronger than the passage of time, stronger than the miles, stronger than a cultural indoctrination that has profoundly changed the language, the way of thinking and the functioning of a lost child. A way of saying that the deep self cannot be modified, that the search for the meaning of its existence animates every human being, that those who do not know their origins will never cease to seek to understand where they come from. Leo knows his subject, speaks with conviction and determination for an effective rendering if not original. The emotional springs work, causing the tears sought within the audience.
Lion tells a hallucinating story, a journey imposed at first to conclude with an initiatory journey to the confines of the origins of a small Indian child. The film also highlights the luck factor, with this opposition between two worlds, two lives, a first that should have been that of the character but which would have meant precariousness, and a second, unexpected, may be abnormal, but which ultimately turned out to be an invaluable opportunity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr0cxdkJres
