Lion (2016): A Thematic and Cinematic Analysis
Lion is a 2016 film directed by Garth Davis, based on the true story of Saroo Brierley (played by Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel) who gets estranged from his family at a tender age of five. The story traverses his journey from getting lost in a train to getting adopted by Australian parents leading to a seemingly fulfilling life to his way back to his biological mother. It communicates his loss, gratitude to his adoptive family, and guilt. The movie explores themes of belongingness and separation from identity and family. It also stars Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, David Wenham in central roles.
I believe "Lion" is a film that sets itself on the themes of cross-cultural identity born from adoption. It is important to mention that Saroo’s adoption is central to the conflict he feels with his cross-cultural identity. The film crosses over cultures, language, and geographic boundaries. It delicately showcases the difference an identity and belongingness can make in an individual. The scene where all the students from Indian roots meet in Australia, we can see how conflicted Saroo felt while introducing himself to the group of students; whereas he instantly connects with Lucy, who is an Australian. However, when he saw and could smell the jalebis after twenty years, nostalgia kicked in and his will to track down his family was ignited along with his efforts to reconcile with his Indian heritage.
When it comes to cultural cross-over, food is an important metric. In India, Saroo is shown eating traditional Indian foods. His love for jalebi was evident when he told his brother Guddu that he wants thousands of it. While in Australia, his adoptive family serves him breakfast foods like cereal and toast. The first time Saroo comes across Indian cuisine was at the get together of Indian origin students which leaves him very emotional –to the point of sobbing and breaking down in front of everyone. This is indicative of the cultural differences in the way food is prepared and consumed in different parts of the world.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this analysis, the theme of adoption and the way it affects all parties involved is also at the core of the film as it changes the narrative of usual cross-cultural films. Here, the plot is revolved around not only the challenges of fitting into multiple cultures, but also the possibilities of conflicts surrounding one’s identity that was taken away from them without their will. It also delves into the guilt that Saroo carries around with himself as he believes that he lived a privileged life while his family must have been still grappling with the loss. The film does justice as it highlights the challenges faced by cross-cultural adoptees, particularly those who are adopted into families of a different race or ethnicity. For example, Saroo's adoptive mother Sue (Nicole Kidman) struggles to understand the cultural and emotional challenges that Saroo faces as a result of his adoption. This is evident in a scene where Saroo has an emotional outburst in front of his adoptive parents, and Sue responds by saying "We tried to love you the way you deserved to be loved." This scene highlights the difficulty of reconciling cultural differences in the context of an adoptive family. Saroo could not fully connect with either culture. It should also be mentioned that Saroo’s adoptive brother was also of Indian descent; however, both of them suffer different traumas from the misfortunes of their childhood in India. This sheds light on the fact that even though they share similar or close cultures, they were two different individuals with different experiences who dealt with their issues very differently.
The movie takes on the theme of separation as well. It powerfully portrays the grief that Saroo’s disappearance brought onto him as well as his biological family. Five year old Saroo’s screams for help in the train and the railway station, his realisation that he is separated from his family, and his desperate but vain attempts at figuring out a way home, emotionally draws the audience to the film. As we get snippets of Saroo imagining the possibility of Guddu frantically searching for Saroo back at the station shows the fears and guilt within Saroo. His biological mother’s relief and ecstasy at the news that her little son was alive all these years shows the bonding between them. It was a surreal moment of belongingness for the family –separated for over twenty years and finally being able to find answers.
Another striking example of the cross-over of culture in the film is the contrast between Saroo's hometown in India and his adoptive family's home in Australia. In the scenes set in India, the viewer sees the vibrant colors, crowded streets, and chaotic energy of Saroo's hometown. This is a stark contrast to the scenes set in Australia, which are characterized by the spaciousness and orderliness of the suburbs. For instance, the film shows the stark contrast between the bustling, crowded streets of Kolkata and the spacious, clean streets of Hobart, Tasmania.
Lion was critically acclaimed for its direction, cinematography, and acting. In terms of cinematography, Greg Fraiser’s contribution to the movie can be called paramount. For instance, he brought out the contrast between the crowded and chaotic city of Kolkata and his calm village which is situated away from chaos of cities. The use of light and shadow to create a stark contrast between his life in India and that in Australia is also laudable. Saroo’s life in Australia was captured in warm and bright colours compared to the bleak light used to capture in his early years in India created a contrast.
The narrative of the film very distinctively aligns itself to Field’s three parts narrative structure as each one is set in a different location. In the first half of the film, it sets out from poverty driven yet calm hometown of Saroo. As the plot unfurls, the location changes into the chaotic city of Kolkata –just as chaotic as the narrative gets. Saroo is estranged from his family, his calls for help reach deaf ears and vile adults, and he escapes human trafficking twice. The plot is set such that the audience is hooked from the first minute to the last. Young Saroo’s unfortunate experience and his battle to get back to his family give the thrills of a climax early in the movie. As he moves to Australia, life gets better. However, the question about his family’s situation and their take on his whereabouts remain unanswered, keeping the viewer clinging to their seats. As privileged as it seems, life in Australia takes a grim turn as well and Saroo decides to address his conflicts which takes us to the third part of the film, the resolution. This part brings tears of relief as well as a bittersweet after-feeling as Saroo reconciles with his biological family sans Guddu. However, as the film progresses, a knot is untangled. All questions are answered.
The cast also did a phenomenal job in connecting with the audience as portrayed the characters magnificently. Dev Patel’s strong presence in the screen does not come off as a surprise considering his other performances. Patel as the adult Saroo used the perfect ingredients and brought to screen the inner turmoil and conflicts of Saroo in optimal amount. Yet, Sunny Pawar, the child actor portraying young Saroo must be hailed and recognised for his exceptional performance. Depicting the wide range of feelings like stress, fear, sadness, as well as recoiling and healing from them to become happy yet with reservations through expressions and tone of voice is often not seen in accomplished actors. Yet, a child actor pulling through all the mentioned acts is commendable. Nicole Kidman looks unrecognisable from her glamorous form in the movie. She portrays the emotions of with such intensity in Lion that the audience sympathises with her situation. However, even though Rooney Mara plays her role as Saroo’s girlfriend Lucy, with dedication, her character was less explored. It left a little room to explore.
The film is well paced owing to Garth Davis’ direction. The strong point of the film is that Davis put equal focus on Saroo’s life in India and Australia in the first and second half, respectively. This made the audience relate to Saroo’s grief as he dealt with separation conflicts regarding his identity. Davis is able to bring out the emotional depth of the story into the plot, doing justice to the real account of incidents. A heart-wrenching yet beautifully directed scene is when Saroo’s screams in the train are slowly masked by the train noises. Similarly, when his small figure steps out of the train into the swarming people indicating getting lost in a narrower sense compared to the reality that lies ahead of him –almost like a foreboding.
Overall, "Lion" offers a nuanced and empathetic portrayal of the complexities of cross-cultural identity and family. It combines exceptional acting, cinematography, and direction to create an art that resonated with the viewers, even though most of us are not acquainted to experiences of Saroo on a personal level. By depicting the differences and similarities between Indian and Australian culture, as well as the challenges faced by cross-cultural adoptees, the film offers a thought-provoking exploration of the impact of adoption on an individual's sense of self. It provides deep and profound meditation on the nature of home and what it means to belong.
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