In the hands of any other actor or writer, Stephen Frears’ “Philomena” could have easily been overly sentimental. However, with outstanding performances from both Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, the film is an honest and heartwarming exploration of faith, redemption and family.
Based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, “Philomena” follows Philomena Lee (Dench), a devout Catholic who conceived a son out of wedlock and gave him away for adoption in the United States. Years later, Philomena has started a new family when BBC reporter Sixsmith (Coogan) appears to remind her of her long-lost son, and the pair team up to find him.
The plot is entertaining enough, but the interplay between the extremely religious Philomena and the intellectually pragmatic Martin evokes the story’s heart. Serving as perfect foils to each other, the two characters represent the old and the new, the religious and the skeptical.
Defined by her faith, Philomena is loyal to the ultraconservative rules her Catholic commun-ity follows. Martin, alternatively, is an enthusiastic doubter and cynic, and frequently questions Philomena’s beliefs.
The pair’s witty banter invariably leads them to subjects of faith and family, as they accidentally step into each other’s world. Though the film occasionally touches on darker matters, its benevolent, loving heroine reminds viewers that forgiveness can heal all wounds.
“Philomena” deftly alternates between lighthearted fun and loaded sentimentalism. Writers Coogan and Jeff Pope produce both heartwarming and thought-provoking dialogue. Frears also plays an instrumental role in the film’s success — he clearly knows the strength of his cast and relies heavily on the realism of the characters. Nevertheless, he employs subtle techniques, such as a dissolve into a flashback of Philomena’s past, to convey important themes about loss and obligation.
It is hard to imagine anybody other than Judi Dench playing Philomena. With a soft voice and a melancholy expression, Dench is incredible and successfully portrays the warmth hidden behind Philomena’s mask of stoicism. Shedding his usual goofball personality, Coogan excels as Martin. Their chemistry adds substance to the relationship between the characters and emulates the warmth of the true story.
Buoyed by an outstanding cast and touching script, “Philom-ena” is a humane story about two worlds colliding. Even though Frears’ film is the kind of story made to win Oscars, it never feels saccharine. Instead, like the film’s protagonist, “Philomena” has heart to spare.
A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Nov. 25 print edition. Bob Teoh is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].