A woman searches for her adult son, who was taken away from her decades ago when she was forced to live in a convent.
Directed by Stephen Frears
journalist
london, england
washington dc, usa
based on novel or book
nurse
faith
forgiveness
orphanage
adoption
based on true story
scandal
ireland
teenage pregnancy
chance meeting
human interest
unwed mother
international adoption
search for child
mother son relationship
abbey
convent
deep sadness
secret
irish
Rank
#57 in 2013·#3049 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.7 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Judi Dench
Philomena
Steve Coogan
Martin Sixsmith
Sophie Kennedy Clark
Young Philomena
Mare Winningham
Mary Hess
Barbara Jefford
Sister Hildegarde
Ruth McCabe
Mother Barbara
Peter Hermann
Pete Olsson
Sean Mahon
Michael Hess
Anna Maxwell Martin
Jane
Michelle Fairley
Sally Mitchell
Wunmi Mosaku
Young Nun
Amy McAllister
Sister Anunciata
Crew
Stephen Frears
Director
Steve Coogan
Screenplay
Jeff Pope
Screenplay
Alexandre Desplat
Original Music Composer
Valerio Bonelli
Editor
Robbie Ryan
Director of Photography
Steve Coogan
Producer
Gabrielle Tana
Producer
Christine Langan
Executive Producer
Henry Normal
Executive Producer
Consolata Boyle
Costume Designer
Naomi Donne
Makeup Designer
Popular Reviews
191 reviews
Philo
6.0★ · 05/10/26
LADY CATHERINE
LADY CATHERINE
Lucien WD
6.0★ · 02/08/26
Fascinated that Michael Hess died in '95 and his memorial video is clearly based on the end of Philadelphia which came out two years previously.
A movie like this does NOT need a big loud Alexandre Desplat score. Coogan is great and Dench is fine but it should've been an Irish actress. The fact that Sixsmith unknowingly met the son IRL is absolutely nuts!!
Fascinated that Michael Hess died in '95 and his memorial video is clearly based on the end of Philadelphia which came out two years previously.
A movie like this does NOT need a big loud Alexandre Desplat score. Coogan is great and Dench is fine but it should've been an Irish actress. The fact that Sixsmith unknowingly met the son IRL is absolutely nuts!!
jaja
8.0★ · 01/17/26
tolong bunuh nuns setan itu pls demi aku
tolong bunuh nuns setan itu pls demi aku
Lily Green
8.0★ · 11/10/25
I would have swung Sister Hildegarde the cheeky cow
I would have swung Sister Hildegarde the cheeky cow
Lau
8.0★ · 09/20/25
this was incredibly sad and my prof was being evil while we were watching
this was incredibly sad and my prof was being evil while we were watching
