As an adult tormented by his Indian upbringing in which he was separated from his birth mother, Saroo (Dev Patel) has the appearance of someone whose long, shaggy hair is in much need of a haircut (and perhaps a shampoo or two as well). Adopted as a young boy by a couple from Australia (Tasmania, to be exact), he grows up far, far away from rural and poverty stricken India where he was originally born, only to be haunted by the image of his older brother Guddu during every waking and sleeping hour. Garth Davis' feature directorial debut is really engrossing during its first half, when it evokes the great Salaam Bombay! (by Mira Nair), while its second half, reminiscent of The Namesake (also by Nair), is somewhat less enthralling, because the adult Saroo spends one too many moments looking very sad and nostalgic, when he could - and should - have simply stopped feeling sorry for himself and began the search for his biological family sooner rather than later. Nevertheless, Lion is a heartfelt movie whose final act packs an emotional punch that few in the audience will be able to resist.
B
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