Based on the true story of Philomena Lee, Philomena tells the heart-rending story of a young mother whose son was sold to an American family while she was a resident at a convent in Ireland.

Decades later, having reluctantly attracted the interest of fallen political journalist, Martin (Steve Coogan), Philomena (Judi Dench) and Martin elect to revisit the convent in search of her long lost son; the convent that took in a teenage and pregnant Philomena in all those years before.

Their visit to the convent is not welcomed. With apparently all of the ‘adoption’ records lost in a fire, Martin no longer feels he is dealing with a one-off incident, but rather a conspiracy, which saw many young and vulnerable teenage mothers fall victim to an oppressive regime that punished them for their ‘sins’ while lining the pockets of the church.

They discover that America is now the most likely place to pick up the trail and follow what little information they have.

In America, the search for Philomena’s long lost son leads them to Washington. And as with many adoption stories, the quest to be reunited proves a difficult one, with few willing to open their doors to these long lost relatives.

The growing relationship between the initially distant Martin and Philomena warms. As he enters deeper into her story what results is an uplifting friendship able to overcome differences of age, religion and class as they form a special bond.

The performance offered by Judi Dench is quite remarkable. While we’ve come to expect nothing less from one of the greatest actors to ever grace the screen, she still manages to amaze every time.

Coogan uses his sardonic tone to brilliant effect in Philomena, as he is in turn bemused and horrified by the obvious atrocities and denials, which few others are willing to acknowledge. While there is little opportunity for his comedic skills, they certainly add a touch of light to this otherwise dark past.

Philomena is a heartfelt retelling of one of Ireland’s most shocking stories. Take your mum and a few tissues; you’re going to need them.

Directed by: Stephen Frears

Starring: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98mins

Release Date: Now showing at Palace Cinemas

Reviewer rating: 3.5/5