The Tear-Jerker of the Year.....

I have now been lucky enough to see 4 of the movies that have been nominated for Best Picture in the Academy Awards. That's pretty good for me as I don't consider myself a regular moviegoer.

I've seen Hidden Figures, a story about black women overcoming obstacles to become important figures in the early American space program. I've also seen Arrival, a science fiction story that on the surface is about communicating with aliens. But actually it's much deeper, and more personal  than that. I've seen Manchester by the Sea, that was a story about being dead in spirit, if not body. I thought it was so uninspiring it was a waste of 2 hours of my life. Then the other day I saw Lion.

Dev Patel as Saloo.

I went not knowing much about Lion, but was pleasantly surprised. Lion is an eye-opening tear-jerker, (If there is such a category.) It is based on the true story of Saloo, a street kid in India. The movie open in 1986, when Saloo seems to be maybe 5 years old. That's two important points for me. True stories always seem more fascinating than fiction. Plus a story that takes place in nearly the present day is easier to relate to. It also is more eye-opening as to Saloo's living conditions.

Young Saloo is played by Sunny Pawar. As an adult he is played by Dev Patel. Nicole Kidman has a brief, but important role.

Saloo lives with his Mom, older brother, and baby sister in what best can be described as a dry, dusty rock in a slum. Mom makes a living literally moving rocks. Saloo hangs with his older brother. They steal coal from moving trains and then resell it for food. The family shares whatever meager food they have.

How could a kid get lost at an Indian train station?

One day Saloo goes with his older brother to work. He tells him to wait in a train station for him. Saloo falls asleep and awakens in a dark and empty station. He then tries to get comfortable in an empty rail car. Before he knows it, the train is traveling non-stop across India. He winds up lost in Calcutta, about 1,200 miles from home. They don't even speak the same language. His living conditions go from bad to worse. He survives in hallways and under bridges where his only possession is a piece of cardboard he can lay on. But he's not alone. There seems to be lots of kids in the same position.

The only kind adult he meets is seemingly interested in selling Saloo to some pervert, If human trafficking is a problem here at home, imagine how it is in overcrowded India. Eventually Saloo winds up in a prison-like orphanage. He is taken in for adoption by a couple in Australia. The contrast in living conditions is stunning. The couple love him as their own, and eventually even adopt another troubled street kid from India.

But as Saloo grows into a fine young man in his 20's, he is always wondering about his real family back in India. This becomes an obsession, and even harms relationships in his life. He tries to use Google Earth to find his home.

I won't ruin the movie for you but Spoiler Alert - it has a happy ending.

Insert a Sarah McLachlan song.

The amazing thing about this movie is seeing the living conditions for street kids in India. There are homeless in my own hometown. But homeless here would seem to be livin' large compared to India. Also, over 80,000 kids go missing every year in India. That's unbelievable. Every kid deserves a chance.

There are tons of worthy charitable organizations. Here's a link to some that are designed to help kids.
I also highly recommend the movie. Here's the trailer.