One film playing a little under the radar is Stephen Frears‘ Philomena, primarily because Frears has been on something of a cold streak, which is why star Judi Dench is the main reason the film is being discussed at all in Oscar terms. Having already won an Oscar-winner and been nominated seven times, Dench may be exactly what Frears has been missing as of late.
The film is based on the true story of Philomena Lee (Dench), an Irish woman seeking the illegitimate son she was forced to put up for adoption in the U.S. in 1952. Philomena co-stars Steve Coogan as Martin Sixsmith, a world-weary journalist who helps Philomena on her way in a film described as “a bitter-sweet comedy”, which may pose a little of a problem in Oscar’s eyes, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Coogan also co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Pope based on Martin Sixsmith’s book “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee”. Philomena will have its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September before arriving in the UK on November 1, there is still no word on when The Weinstein Co. will release it stateside.
Check out the first international trailer directly below.
