Lion is a 2016 biographical drama film directed by Garth Davis and written by Luke Davies based on the non-fiction book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley. The film stars Dev Patel Rooney Mara David Wenham and Nicole Kidman. Principal photography commenced in March 2015 and took place in Adelaide Australia and Kolkata India.
The film had its world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2016. The film was released in Australia on 19 January 2017 and in the United Kingdom and the United States on 20 January 2017. It grossed $140 million worldwide.
Saroo Brierley was born in Khandwa Madhya Pradesh India in 1981. As a child he lived in a poverty-stricken slum with his mother sister and two brothers. One night when he was five years old he became separated from his family at a train station in Kolkata. He boarded a train that took him 1600 kilometres (1000 mi) away from home to Howrah. He survived alone on the streets of Kolkata for several weeks until he was eventually adopted by an Australian couple Sue and John Brierley. He was renamed Saroo.
Saroo grew up in Hobart Tasmania and eventually moved to Melbourne Victoria. In his twenties he began searching for his birth family using Google Earth. After finding clues about his hometown and family he was eventually reunited with his birth mother Fatima Munshi and his brother Kallu.
The film Lion is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley’s reunion with his birth family.
The film Lion received mixed reviews from critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 72% rating based on 193 reviews with an average rating of 6.8/10. The site’s critical consensus reads “Lion roars with plenty of emotion but a stiff leading performance and an overly manipulative story make it feel more like a filmed Wikipedia entry than a moving cinematic experience.” On Metacritic the film has a score of 64 out of 100 based on 39 critics indicating “generally favorable reviews”.
box office the film grossed $3.9 million from its four-day limited release in the United States and Canada and $7.2 million in other countries for a worldwide total of $11.1 million.
Lion was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 20 January 2017. It grossed £1.4 million ($1.8 million) from 554 cinemas in its opening weekend finishing fifth at the box office.
In the United States and Canada Lion was released alongside The Founder and XXX: Return of Xander Cage and was projected to gross around $3 million from 1602 theatres in its four-day opening weekend. The film grossed $3.9 million over the four-day weekend and $2.5 million over the three-day weekend finishing ninth at the box office.
In its second weekend of release the film grossed $2 million finishing thirteenth at the box office.
Critical reception
The film Lion received mixed reviews from critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 72% rating based on 193 reviews with an average rating of 6.8/10. The site’s critical consensus reads “Lion roars with plenty of emotion but a stiff leading performance and an overly manipulative story make it feel more like a filmed Wikipedia entry than a moving cinematic experience.” On Metacritic the film has a score of 64 out of 100 based on 39 critics indicating “generally favorable reviews”.
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film’s direction and performances but criticized its script saying “this fact-based drama has been given the Hollywood sheen which sometimes makes it feel like two different movies: a small intimate one about a boy’s struggle to find his place in the world and a sweeping epic one in which the same boy is a means to an end.”
The Guardian gave the film 3 out of 5 stars praising its direction and performances but criticizing its “slightly contrived” script.
The Telegraph gave the film 4 out of 5 stars praising Dev Patel’s performance and the film’s direction but criticizing its “occasionally twee” script.
The Independent gave the film 3 out of 5 stars praising its direction and performances but criticizing its “manipulative” script.
Accolades
At the 89th Academy Awards Lion was nominated for six awards including Best Picture Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel) Best Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman) Best Adapted Screenplay (Luke Davies) Best Original Score (Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka) and Best Cinematography (Giles Nuttgens).
At the 70th British Academy Film Awards Lion was nominated for eleven awards winning three for Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel) Best Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman) and Best Cinematography (Giles Nuttgens).
At the 22nd Critics’ Choice Awards Lion won Best Adapted Screenplay (Luke Davies).
At the 8th AACTA Awards Lion won Best Cinematography (Giles Nuttgens) and Best Editing (Pietro Scalia).
When is the movie Lion showing?
The movie Lion is showing on December 25th.
Where is the movie Lion showing?
The movie Lion is showing at the theater.
Why is the movie Lion showing?
The movie Lion is showing because it is a new movie.
Who is the movie Lion showing?
The movie Lion is showing to anyone who wants to see it.
How is the movie Lion showing?
The movie Lion is showing on a screen.
What is the movie Lion showing?
The movie Lion is showing a story about a lion.
Will the movie Lion be showing again?
The movie Lion will be showing again on December 26th.
Is the movie Lion family friendly?
The movie Lion is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
What time is the movie Lion showing?
The movie Lion is showing at 8pm.
How long is the movie Lion?
The movie Lion is two hours long.
What is the plot of the movie Lion?
A young lion is separated from his family and must find his way back home.
Is the movie Lion in color or black and white?
The movie Lion is in color.
Who is the director of the movie Lion?
The movie Lion is directed by Garth Davis.
Who are the actors in the movie Lion?
The actors in the movie Lion are Dev Patel Rooney Mara and Sunny Pawar.
What genre is the movie Lion?
The movie Lion is a drama.
