Day 19 of 365 (Philomena)

 Today was sunny at least for a time here in the frozen north. I took the opportunity to go to church in the morning. Secundus my youngest grudgingly accompanied me. One of things I love when he comes with me to church is how beautiful his voice is. He has a very melodious voice. Most the time when he is standing next to me I just kind of mouth the words of the hymns and listen to him sing. It was a nice moment.


 The sermon was on the meaning that we don’t see in people but which is actually there. Why did Jesus call Peter the rock when Peter sank into the water following Jesus and when he denied Jesus on the night before the crucifixion? Well Jesus saw something more, something substantial that would evolve over time. In all of us the pastor asserted there is something of value, something of meaning that may not be evident on first or second or third glance, but it will show itself over time. I liked the sermon.

Yesterday my wife and I went to see Philomena starring Judi Dench. The theatre here while I laud it for showing this Oscar nominated fare has relegated the film to showing a noon and three p.m. only. Thus any serious film going patron has a mere four chances over the weekend to see the movie. The four shows sell out a half hour before show time. You think that they might relinquish one showing of Nut Job for at least a 5 p.m. screening, but no.

Viewed as a small film Philomena is quite nice success. The tale is simple in its elevator pitch, mother forcibly separated from her son by Irish Catholic nuns seeks him out after an adoption placement. The pitch is simple but every actor in the film brings nuance. There are no real shortcuts save maybe one to the emotional payoff at the end. Dame Judi is in fine form and she makes her character real, not cookie cutter. It is okay to be a person of faith and have a bit of a foul mouth (appropriately) and to have knowledge of the world.

 The screenwriter and lead actor Steve Coogan does a good job keeping up with Ms. Dench. He actually gets to verbalize some of the feelings that the audience feels especially toward the end of the film. For a low budget film the cinematography is quite nice. The music at times seemed odd but it did not detract from the story. If you have read stories of the Magdalene laundries you will understand the cruel if not horrific back story of the film. Take a moment chase down why this film matters.

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