Stephen Frears, Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope and Judi Dench on PHILOMENA
Ever since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last month, Philomena has enjoyed an excellent reputation. Many are already naming it among the favourites in many categories of the next Academy Awards. And who can blame them. Not only is Stephen Frears’ new film full of charm and humanity but it also handles the delicate issue of a renowned Catholic Church scandal very tastefully.
Based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC reporter Martin Sixsmith The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, this is the story of Philomena (Judi Dench) whose son was taken away from her by the Magdalene Sisters, who gave him up for adoption but also forced her to sign papers that wouldn’t allow her to find out about her son’s whereabouts. Years later, we find her living in London. Martin (Steve Coogan) hears about her story and realising that it could be good for his down and out career embarks with her on a journey in search of her son, who would be fifty years old.
The film was presented at the 57th BFI London Film Festival this week and its screening was preceded by a press conference with director Stephen Frears, screenwriters Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan (who also stars and co-produced the film) and actress Judi Dench.
One of the elements of the film that is most rewarding is the screenplay, which won the best screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival. Its perfect balance of drama and comedy is quite remarkable. “I knew Steve a little bit before we worked on Philomena,” Pope said. “But when I met him, I did not meet a comedy writer. I encountered someone who was passionate about the story. For six months before we wrote the screenplay, he went over and over the story.” According to him, there were other advantages about working with Coogan. “He has brilliant mimic. Writing the script with him was like being at once in the room with Martin, Philomena and all the other characters.”
“We collaborated in the sense that we both brought different things to the process,” added Coogan. “Jeff would often talk about the structure and the rhythm of the whole piece and I was more on the myopic details of the characters and the dialogue.”
As mentioned before, the issue of the Catholic Church is quite a heavy one. At the press conference in Venice, Frears provocatively invited the Pope to see it, and called it was an issue worth raising. Yet, he highlighted the fact that there is nothing particularly controversial about the way in which it is brought to the screen in Philomena. “I don’t worry about the social value of the film. I could see it was an interesting subject and also that it was controversial. But the aspect of Philomena’s faith was very affecting.”
Despite all the hardships endured at the hands of the Magdalene Sisters, Philomena is in fact a devoted Catholic who is quite protective of her spirituality. This creates a great contrast with the cynical Martin who openly calls himself an atheist and whose reaction to the injustices Philomena experienced is quite the opposite.
Judi Dench gives one of her best performances as the titular character. To her, it was important that she would remain true to the real life Philomena. “I wanted to do the film from the first time Steve [Coogan] read it to me,” she said. “You only have to read the story and read about Philomena. I felt a very big responsibility playing someone that had not die. But I felt that we had to tell her story in a way that was true to her without selling her short. She’s a most remarkable woman.” Coogan added that Philomena had already seen the film twice and was very pleased with it.
“On top of this tragic story was what I keep calling a romantic comedy,” said Frears. “It was a sort of odd couple, so I like to challenge different things at the same time. It was a very moving and very funny story. What more do people want?” What more would people want. Philomena is a wonderful crowd pleaser, entertaining, funny but also reflective and respectful. On top of that, the pairing of Coogan and Dench is golden. We can certainly expect to hear about this film come award season.
- Matt Micucci