"Lion", a film

This is a well done and touching film that follows the life of a young Indian boy.  He gets lost when he is five years old and ends up in Kolkata alone.  The first half of the film covers the harrowing early part of his life until he is adopted.  The second half finds him as a 25 year old man, successful and educated, who is seeking his past.  While occasionally a bit plodding, the story evolves with the goal of bringing out the tissues of viewers.  It works, and it is based on a true story.

While this is an Australian film, it does follow the Bollywood formula in which both films and actors are based on successful templates.  "Lion" is clearly a derivative of "Slumdog Millionaire" in many ways.  At times that is almost humorously obvious even though the actual stories are very different.

Its recommendation for an academy award was clearly a longshot, but the recognition as a nominee seems to have been deserved.  Multiculturalism encouraged at that show is a good thing.