Lion

[projekktor id=’26353′]

Based on the book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley, Lion is a drama directed by Garth Davis. It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival where it was first runner-up in the People’s Choice voting. The film stars Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, and Nicole Kidman.

Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

Patel had to campaign hard to win the role of the adult Saroo. “Dev heard we were making the film very early on, when we were still writing,” explains Davis. “He pulled up one day at [screenwriter] Luke Davies’ house in Los Angeles where we were working, walked in and introduced himself. He was very passionate about the role. Eventually we did a four and a half hour screen test in London – literally bare feet and a handheld camera – and I pushed and pushed Dev to see how far he could go with this character. We needed a soul that shined and that is Dev!”

Lion is rated PG.