Lion

After 5-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) is accidentally abandoned in a railroad station, he gets on a train and falls asleep, travelling thousands of miles across India, far away from his family. Left to fend for himself as an orphan on the streets of Calcutta, Saroo embarks on the adventure of a lifetime—one that takes him all the way to Australia, where he's adopted by a loving couple (Nicole Kidman, David Wenham). Some 25 years later, guided only by fractured, fragmented memories and steadfast determination, adult Saroo (Dev Patel) discovers Google Earth, which leads him back to his long-lost village and a birth family he barely remembers. Based on Saroo Brierley's 2014 memoir A Long Way Home, this multi-Oscar-nominated film is sensitively directed by Garth Davis, telling a spiritually uplifting story that doesn't succumb to sentimentality. Diminutive Pawar exudes charismatic vulnerability, while Patel's guilt-conflicted resolve is raw, strong, and powerful. Rooney Mara costars as Saroo's supportive girlfriend. The film's secondary theme revolves around the unconditional love of an adoptive parent—and the two mother-figures here are the pillars that support this story about searching for family and identity. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a collection of behind-the-scenes featurettes (22 min.), deleted scenes (5 min.), and a music video for “Never Give Up” by Sia (4 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus UltraViolet copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for this Best Picture nominee.] (S. Granger)