Dynamic Duo

            Philomena begins its character development process by introducing a mildly depressed Martin Sixsmith. Martin has been fired for saying something he didn’t say while the media, which he was once a member of, is exaggerating a careless sentence into a full-blown scandal. One scene has a contemplative Martin attending church with his wife until he abruptly leaves the service. Martin’s wife later confronts him about it and he replies that he’s uncomfortable because he doesn’t believe in god and he thinks the priest knows it.

            After Martin’s introduction the film immediately shows an elderly Philomena praying alone. A series of flashbacks begin to show us Philomena’s tragic story. After a young and innocent Philomena falls for a boy, she gets pregnant and goes to the church for help. The church helps Philomena deliver her baby but keeps her as a virtual prisoner while she works of the debt of their generosity. Philomena works hard every day while looking forward to the one hour she gets with her child, all of the women with her scramble to see their children when finally allowed. This continues until her child is taken away amidst her crying screams.

            The film gives the viewer some background to understand the characters and uses it to show us the gradual development of martin and Philomena. Philomena is torn between the shames of her sins. Her baby was born through premarital sex but she also cannot stand to continue lying about his existence. Martin is confounded by her continued faith in god. How could she still believe in a god whose nuns imprisoned her and sold her child away? Martin continues to express his anger and broken faith to Philomena throughout the film until even she begins to doubt her faith. The tension builds until Philomena loses her temper with Martin and storms off to a roadside church. As Philomena sits inside the confession booth to confess her sins and relieve tension, she finds herself completely unable to speak. She storms back out of the church to Martin’s bewilderment and the two continue their drive.