From Netflix:

Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.

If I had not already known the story of Philomena I would have finished watching this marvelous film in a really upset and angry mood. Never mind that this outrageously true story has as happy an ending as is possible given the situation.

Judi Dench (Philomena) and Steve Coogan (Martin Sixsmith) play off one another perfectly as in ying versus yang, as in a Catholic believer versus an atheist, as in simple down-to-earth versus a sophisticated Oxford educated journalist. Much of the charm of the story is seeing each of them change over the course of the film: he softens into compassion, she forgives the evil nuns but finally feels the need to let the world know what happened to all those unwed young mothers.

No more will I say. Just enjoy the plot twists. One surprise (this is not a spoiler) is that at one point seemingly simple Philomena shows that she understands in blunt terms quite a bit about contemporary mores. Somehow that fact just did not ring true with me.

As a culture-vulture side note: Peter Hermann (Pete Olsson) is married to Mariska Hargitay (“Law and Order”) who is the daughter of Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. Just remember that for your next game of Trivial Pursuit.

DO NOT MISS!