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| Philomena Lee issues letter defending film against anti-Catholic charge | Philomena Lee issues letter defending film against anti-Catholic charge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Philomena Lee, the real life subject of the acclaimed forced-adoption drama Philomena, has issued a letter defending the film against accusations that it is "anti-Catholic". | Philomena Lee, the real life subject of the acclaimed forced-adoption drama Philomena, has issued a letter defending the film against accusations that it is "anti-Catholic". |
| Responding specifically to a review in the New York Post that called the film "hateful and boring", the letter published by Deadline replied directly to the Post's critic, Kyle Smith. "Your review of the movie paints its story as being a condemnation of Catholicism and conservative views. It states that the relationship depicted between Mr Martin Sixsmith and myself comes across as contrived and trite, and funny for all the wrong reasons. Forgive me for saying so, Kyle, but you are incorrect." | |
| Philomena, based on Martin Sixsmith's book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, tells the story of Lee and Sixsmith's attempt to contact Lee's son, removed from her by the nuns with whom she has taken refuge in 1950s Ireland. Judi Dench plays Lee, and Steve Coogan the journalist and former spin doctor Sixsmith. | Philomena, based on Martin Sixsmith's book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, tells the story of Lee and Sixsmith's attempt to contact Lee's son, removed from her by the nuns with whom she has taken refuge in 1950s Ireland. Judi Dench plays Lee, and Steve Coogan the journalist and former spin doctor Sixsmith. |
| Lee's letter then goes on to paint her as a staunch Catholic, despite her experiences. "The story it tells has resonated with people not because it's some mockery of ideas or institutions that they're in disagreement with. This is not a rally cry against the church or politics. In fact, despite some of the troubles that befell me as a young girl, I have always maintained a very strong hold on my faith." | Lee's letter then goes on to paint her as a staunch Catholic, despite her experiences. "The story it tells has resonated with people not because it's some mockery of ideas or institutions that they're in disagreement with. This is not a rally cry against the church or politics. In fact, despite some of the troubles that befell me as a young girl, I have always maintained a very strong hold on my faith." |
| In his review, Smith lambasts Lee herself as a "ninny" and claims that "in 1952 Ireland, both mother and child's life would have been utterly ruined by an out-of-wedlock birth and that the nuns are actually giving both a chance at a fresh start that both indeed, in real life, enjoyed." But Lee's letter concludes on a magnanimous note: "Just as I forgave the church for what happened with my son, I forgive you for not taking the time to understand my story. I do hope though that the families heading to the movie theatre to see the film decide for themselves – and disagree with you." | In his review, Smith lambasts Lee herself as a "ninny" and claims that "in 1952 Ireland, both mother and child's life would have been utterly ruined by an out-of-wedlock birth and that the nuns are actually giving both a chance at a fresh start that both indeed, in real life, enjoyed." But Lee's letter concludes on a magnanimous note: "Just as I forgave the church for what happened with my son, I forgive you for not taking the time to understand my story. I do hope though that the families heading to the movie theatre to see the film decide for themselves – and disagree with you." |
| The last few lines suggest the motivation behind the letter: distributors the Weinstein Company have been particularly concerned that "church families" as Harvey Weinstein has described them may be put off by any furore surrounding the film – hence the recent successful battle to have the restrictive R rating removed. | The last few lines suggest the motivation behind the letter: distributors the Weinstein Company have been particularly concerned that "church families" as Harvey Weinstein has described them may be put off by any furore surrounding the film – hence the recent successful battle to have the restrictive R rating removed. |
| • Tom Shone: Judi Dench re-introduces herself to America as comedian of Philomena • Philomena: Weinsteins win MPAA appeal against R rating | • Tom Shone: Judi Dench re-introduces herself to America as comedian of Philomena • Philomena: Weinsteins win MPAA appeal against R rating |
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