A woman searches for her adult son, who was taken away from her decades ago when she was forced to live in a convent.
Acting
Dench's micro-expressions destroy you; Coogan's restrained fury simmers.
Writing
Coogan's script balances investigative punch with Philomena's gentle wit.
Direction
Frears lets horror live in polite rooms and garden strolls.
Director
Stephen Frears
Judi Dench
Philomena
Steve Coogan
Martin Sixsmith
Sophie Kennedy Clark
Young Philomena
Mare Winningham
Mary Hess
Barbara Jefford
Sister Hildegarde
Ruth McCabe
Mother Barbara
Peter Hermann
Pete Olsson
Sean Mahon
Michael Hess
Anna Maxwell Martin
Jane
Michelle Fairley
Sally Mitchell
Wunmi Mosaku
Young Nun
Amy McAllister
Sister Anunciata
Charlie Murphy
Kathleen
Cathy Belton
Sister Claire
Kate Fleetwood
Young Sister Hildegarde
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real Martin Sixsmith was a BBC journalist fired in a government scandal; Coogan discovered Philomena's story while researching Sixsmith's career for a different project.
The film sparked Ireland's 2014 investigation into Magdalene laundries and forced adoptions; survivors said it finally made people believe them.
GB
