BY CORRIE BROWN
Sylvan Lake Film Society is back with an amazing line-up of heartwarming, heart-wrenching true stories.
“Philomena”, the heartbreaking true story of a child stolen at a young age, and a mother’s 50-year quest to find him, is being screened Monday (Jan. 27).
February brings the story of Nelson Mandela as you never knew him in “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”.
In Philomena, “Director Stephen Frears (The Queen) teams with Judi Dench (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Steve Coogan (The Trip) for this powerful true story of an unmarried Irish Catholic woman who, decades after being forced by her community to give up her newborn son, embarks on a search to find him with the aid of a BBC reporter. In 1950s Ireland, Catholic authorities shamed thousands of “fallen” women into giving their children up for adoption. Philomena Lee (Dench) was one of these women. After 50 years of fruitless searching for her son’s whereabouts, she solicits the help of recently unemployed — and unapologetically cynical — journalist Martin Sixsmith (Coogan).
“Determined to be positive despite the obstacles that may lie ahead, the talkative Philomena shares stories from her past, savouring every moment on her journey to meet her child. While her quirks may test Sixsmith’s patience, he will ultimately prove to be her biggest supporter.” - Entertainment One.
Philomena shows at Landmark Cinemas Monday at 7:10 pm. Tickets are $8, available for pre-sale at the library or at the theatre that evening. Proceeds support Sylvan Lake Municipal Library.