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Philomena

  • 20132013
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
101K
YOUR RATING
Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena (2013)
A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.
Play trailer2:32
4 Videos
88 Photos
BiographyComedyDrama
A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
101K
YOUR RATING
    • Stephen Frears
    • Steve Coogan(screenplay)
    • Jeff Pope(screenplay)
    • Martin Sixsmith(book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee")
  • Stars
    • Judi Dench
    • Steve Coogan
    • Sophie Kennedy Clark
    • Stephen Frears
    • Steve Coogan(screenplay)
    • Jeff Pope(screenplay)
    • Martin Sixsmith(book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee")
  • Stars
    • Judi Dench
    • Steve Coogan
    • Sophie Kennedy Clark
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 277User reviews
    • 356Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars

    Videos4

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Trailer #1
    International Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch International Trailer
    Philomena
    Clip 1:08
    Watch Philomena
    Exclusive Featurette
    Featurette 3:05
    Watch Exclusive Featurette

    Photos88

    Judi Dench in Philomena (2013)
    Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena (2013)
    Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena (2013)
    Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena (2013)
    Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena (2013)
    Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena (2013)
    Steve Coogan at an event for Philomena (2013)
    Steve Coogan at an event for Philomena (2013)
    Actors Steve Coogan, Judi Dench, Philomena Lee, actress Sophie Kennedy Clark and Martin Sixsmith attend the "Philomena" American Express Gala screening during the 57th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 16, 2013 in London, England.
    Steve Coogan at an event for Philomena (2013)
    Judi Dench at an event for Philomena (2013)
    Steve Coogan at an event for Philomena (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Judi Dench
    Judi Dench
    • Philomena Lee
    Steve Coogan
    Steve Coogan
    • Martin Sixsmith
    Sophie Kennedy Clark
    Sophie Kennedy Clark
    • Young Philomena
    Mare Winningham
    Mare Winningham
    • Mary
    Barbara Jefford
    Barbara Jefford
    • Sister Hildegarde
    Ruth McCabe
    Ruth McCabe
    • Mother Barbara
    Peter Hermann
    Peter Hermann
    • Pete Olsson
    Sean Mahon
    Sean Mahon
    • Michael
    Anna Maxwell Martin
    Anna Maxwell Martin
    • Jane
    Michelle Fairley
    Michelle Fairley
    • Sally Mitchell
    Wunmi Mosaku
    Wunmi Mosaku
    • Young Nun
    Amy McAllister
    Amy McAllister
    • Sister Anunciata
    Charlie Murphy
    Charlie Murphy
    • Kathleen
    Cathy Belton
    Cathy Belton
    • Sister Claire
    Kate Fleetwood
    Kate Fleetwood
    • Young Sister Hildegarde
    Charissa Shearer
    • Peg
    Nika McGuigan
    Nika McGuigan
    • Bridie
    Rachel Wilcock
    • Mamie
      • Stephen Frears
      • Steve Coogan(screenplay)
      • Jeff Pope(screenplay)
      • Martin Sixsmith(book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There are flashbacks, done with "home movies". Some were created for this movie, and some are footage of Philomena's actual son.
    • Goofs
      When the phone rings in Martin's Washington, D.C. hotel room, the ringtone is typical UK, not US: two short rings, which repeat. "Filming Locations" indicate that interior hotel scenes were filmed at the London Marriott Hotel. The sound editor should have changed ringtone.
    • Quotes

      Martin Sixsmith: The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

      Philomena: That's lovely, Martin. Did you just think of that?

      Martin Sixsmith: No, it's T.S. Eliot

    • Crazy credits
      Real footage of Anthony/Michael is shown at the ending credits
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Venice Film Festival 2013 (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Mother of God Here I Stand
      Composed by John Tavener and Mikhail Lermontov

      Published by Chester Music Ltd.

      By kind permission of Music Sales Creative

      Performed by The Tiffin Boys' Choir

      Choir Director: Simon Toyne

    User reviews277

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    This Year's King's Speech
    As several critics have observed, this wonderful film, just shown at TIFF, is destined to become this year's King's Speech (which began its Oscar run in Toronto too, though Philomena has already picked up accolades in Venice). Both British films have strongly emotional undercurrents leavened by wry humour, feature outstanding performances from the leads and are based on true stories.

    Judi Dench, as the Irish woman whose out-of-wedlock son is taken from her by Catholic nuns and sold to a rich American couple in the 1950's, has never been better. She imbues the role with a mix of wisdom (after all, as she reminds us repeatedly, she was nurse for 30 years) and naiveté that would seem to be impossible were it not so deftly handled. While the cynical atheist portrayed by Steve Coogan rarely misses an opportunity to poke fun at her, more often than not she enjoys the last laugh.

    Despite the consummate acting, and Frears' slick directing, the greatest treat of the film is Steve Coogan's screenplay. Given its subject matter, the story could easily have veered into melodrama, but just when it is on the verge of doing so Coogan pulls us back from the edge. Thankfully, Coogan himself is there to convey precisely the proper blend of sarcasm and compassion.
    helpful•163
    15
    • RolyRoly
    • Sep 11, 2013

    FAQ2

    • How could such scandalous actions have continued for so long?
    • Is 'Philomena' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 2013 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • United States
      • Official site (France)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland
    • Production companies
      • The Weinstein Company
      • Yucaipa Films
      • Pathé
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 38 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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