Philomena(The Movie)

[Caribeing]

Philomena, on BBC 2 tonight at 9pm, I haven't seen this movie but looking forwarding to seeing it as know the story and reviews good! Rugby on ITV!!

[VHG]

It is on the BBC iPlayer, but only for 31 days

[VHG]

Link did not seem to work, but just go to the BBC2 section then the Films section.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

[tezmand]

Wat a brilliant film so sad and moving also made me angry

[choux]

This film was totally absorbing - a rarity for me. Philomena forgave the Sisters for everything - especially Sr Hildegarde. Who are we to argue with that? It would be very wrong to treat all Catholics the same for the portrayed actions of a few in this story.

I have never liked Steve Coogan but then I have never seen him before in such straight acting. His performance was as good as that of Judi Dench.

[naomi24]

Mazie, I’ve watched it. Great acting, but a terribly sad story. Just awful. You were right – it did make my blood boil. I simply don’t understand how these sanctimonious, compassionless, halfwits found justification for what they did, but somehow they did - and the cruelty and deceit wasn’t confined to the past. It was continually sustained by successive members of that community until their lies were forcibly exposed. Absolutely sickening. Martin Sixsmith is to be commended.

[choux]

The gift of forgiveness is a wonderful thing.

[FoxLee2]

As good as the film was, it didn't follow events faithfully e.g. Philomena knew that her son had died and had been to his grave before she'd even met up with Martin Sixsmith.

[Mamyalynne]

It was mesmerising with honesty, cruelty and as said above touching forgiveness - most moving.

[choux]

But that would not have been so good for the box office, FoxLee ;)

[sandyRoe]

I didn't watch it but wonder do the nuns make convenient scapegoats for the sins of society at that time? Rural Ireland was as priest-ridden as the most backward Pakistani village is today, and while it didn't run to 'honour killings' for its wayward daughters, it developed a sort of honour exile.
A single mother who managed to keep her child would have had very few options. I think a number turned to prostitution. So maybe the nuns thought they were doing the best for mother and child, giving them both the chance of a fresh start. Being cruel to be kind.