Though the movie Lion only earned over $30 million, it demonstrates an indescribable level of joy woven into a story of pain and sorrow that is not shown in a typical commercial movie.

Directors Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Angie Fielder make sure that everyone’s heart will be touched by this movie, especially because of it’s ability to cinematically transcend the cliche of its genre.

Lion is real, and it scares the viewer at the possibility that this very storyline is a reality for many throughout the world. Whomever sees this movie, will definitely leave the theater feeling extremely grateful for the beautiful, safe and happy life they have.

Lion is a true story of five-year-old Saroo, and his journey after he gets separated from his brother at a train station. In a frantic search for his loved one, he ends up being taken 1000s of kilometers across India by train.

Saroo must learn to survive alone on the streets of Kolkata, India, until the solace of safety finds him. Saroo leaves India until 25 years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination and a the aid from an unlikely technological aid, Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

Young Saroo is played by Sunny Pawar, and his ability to demonstrate the pain and fear of living on the streets on India is incredible. I respect adult actors greatly, but when kids have the ability to demonstrate a story in such a beautiful way, it makes the role that much more powerful.

A good half of the movie is the story of young Saroo, but the second half seamlessly transitions into adult Saroo, played by Dev Patel who was previously in the Oscar-winning Best Picture “Slumdog Millionaire.”

“Lion floods the viewer with big feelings. If you have ever been a child, raised a child, lost a child or met a child — or a mother — this movie will wreck you. As a purely emotional experience it succeeds without feeling too manipulative or maudlin. I mean, it is manipulative and maudlin, but in a way that seems fair and transparent.” in an interview with New York Times one of Lion’s directors, Sherman said.

Such a simple and powerful cinematic decision that leaves the viewer with a sense of wonderment. Davis truly created a masterpiece that definitely has a chance at earning Best Picture. Lion is nominated for five academy awards, and deservedly. If you want to experience the heart wrenching beauty in the most pure and real state, Lion is the movie for you.