saroo brierley book a long way home review

Whatley’s illustrations, ranging from small black and white vignettes to large colour illustrations, portray Saroo’s journey and life in a realistic and heartfelt way. While growing up in a loving household Saroo never forgets his family and after many painstaking hours using Google Earth, he eventually locates his hometown. He then travels to Calcutta, as it was known then, by train after falling asleep in an empty carriage, waiting for his big brother.Īfter sleeping on the streets, he is rescued and taken to an orphanage, where he is adopted by a couple in Tasmania, Australia. Beginning in India when Saroo was a little boy, we meet his family and learn what his life was like, harsh and poverty stricken, but happy. With a long written text, Saroo’s story is illustrated with Whatley’s exquisite illustrations. In addition to its Academy Award nomination in the Best Picture category, Lion is also nominated in the Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel), Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman), Adapted Screenplay (Luke Davies), Cinematography, and Original Score categories.The well-known story of Saroo Brierley’s long search for his family and his home town is now available in picture book form for young readers. Because many adoptees do have a very strong desire to locate their biological parents Lion is a film well worth viewing and discussing with family and friends.

The adoption and belonging themes in Lion have an authentic ring because the film is based on a true story written by Saroo Brierley about his first-hand experiences with adoption and the question of belonging. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself.” Therefore the longing of the Christian to be home is ultimately directed toward their heavenly home and their true and lasting family who awaits them there. The old has passed away behold, the new has come. Paul describes it in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. A Christian’s longing isn’t to find their original family in the way Saroo seeks to find his, but the Christian’s adoption is an opportunity to put off the “old self” entirely. The Christian life is full of longing and internal groaning for the Day when our adoption as children of God is made complete in the resurrection of the dead (Romans 8:23). Like Christians, who are not blood relatives but adoptees, Saroo and Mantosh do not always get along yet are part of the same family. As is the case in Lion, adopted siblings can live strained and complicated relationships. This is what makes all Christian believers brothers and sisters with Jesus as their eldest brother and God the Father their dear and loving Father. Paul teaches how, “In love predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will” (Ephesians 1:4-5). This bitter/sweet quality in the film is the dramatic strength of Lion.Ĭhristian viewers may want to note the film’s adoption narrative since adoption is part of the Christian life. Pawar is a charming, warm child and the film expresses these characteristics vividly bringing a sweetness to this often emotionally sad film. The rest of the film shows his struggles as he uses a new technology-Google Earth- to find his way home to his small Indian village hoping to see his birth-mother and family.ĭev Patel does a fine job as the adult Saroo, but the most compelling parts of the film feature Sunny Pawar as the five-year-old Saroo. Twenty-five years later, as an adult entering a hospitality program at a local college, Saroo (Dev Patel) begins recalling vivid memories and dreams of his life in India and becomes obsessed with finding his way home. Although his life is easier as he enjoys financially comfortable home, tensions arise when the Brierley’s adopt a second son, Mantosh (Keshav Jadhav, Divian Ladwa), who does not adjust well to his new life in Australia. Saroo’s adoption has profound repercussions. His failed attempts to find his way home to his mother Kamla (Priyanka Bose) and the rest of his family ends with his adoption by an Australian couple, the Brierley’s (David Wenham and Nicole Kidman). After becoming lost while working with his older brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate), Saroo has a series of dangerous misadventures on the streets of Calcutta. In Garth Davis’ film Lion (2016), Sunny Pawar plays Saroo a five-year-old boy separated from his family in India. Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary.Lutheran Women's Missionary League – Canada.Police and First Responders Appreciation Day.

Saroo brierley book a long way home review