Philomena (2013)

An elderly Irishwoman (Judi Dench) still wonders about the child forcibly taken away from her by the Catholic church when she was an unwed teenage mother 50 years ago. When a journalist (Steve Coogan) suggests a human interest story about finding her son, the journey takes them to Washington D.C. but a longer journey for her to find closure. Based on a true story, Coogan also co-produced and co-wrote the screenplay in addition to co-starring so thanks be to Coogan. The screenplay's achievement is how it manages to subvert your expectations by avoiding the possible tearjerking sentiments. The film is gently laced with humor while still allowing Dench's pain and guilt to stay firmly in the forefront. And it doesn't need to jerk the tears, they come naturally and readily. The director Stephen Frears (THE QUEEN) has a deft touch with actresses as his track record proves. Helen Mirren, Glenn Close, Julia Roberts, Anjelica Huston, Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Bening have done some of their very best work under Frears' direction so no surprise that Judi Dench gives a powerful and moving performance here. A lovely film though Catholic "charity" doesn't come off looking very well at all. With Sean Mahon, Mare Winningham, Anna Maxwell Martin, Barbara Jefford, Peter Hermann and Sophie Kennedy Clark as the young Judi Dench.