Philomena, starring Steve Coogan and Judi Dench, has been a huge box office success in the UK & Ireland, and has also received critical acclaim. The film tells the real-life story of Philomena Lee, who was sent to Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea after giving birth to an out-of-wedlock son during the 1950s. The child was adopted to a U.S. couple without Lee's permission, and her search to find the child - assisted by journalist Martin Sixsmith - is the focus of the film. However, several controversies have been brewing behind the scenes, with some accusing the film of being 'anti-Catholic'.
The most notable of the film's negative reviews came from the New York Post's Kyle Smith. In his scathing one-star review, Smith stated, "With Philomena, British producer-writer-star Steve Coogan and director Stephen Frears hit double blackjack, finding a true-life tale that would enable them to simultaneously attack Catholics and Republicans. There’s no other purpose to the movie, so if 90 minutes of organized hate brings you joy, go and buy your ticket now."
In an unusual turn of events, the real-life Philomena Lee has responded directly to Smith, explaining why she feels he has misinterpreted the film's intentions. In the letter published by Deadline, Lee argues, "Not everyone has to love [the film], or take much away from it, but I speak on behalf of all of us in saying that what we don’t want is its message to be misinterpreted. You are entitled to an opinion of course, as we all are. 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."
This isn't the only minor controversy to break out over Philomena. The Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary have criticised the filmmakers for inaccurately portraying Sister Hildegarde McNulty, one of the nuns prominently featured in the film. Philomena's rating in the U.S. was also a heated topic. After the MPAA rated the film 'R' for containing two swear words, Coogan, Dench and distributor Harvey Weinstein successfully campaigned for the rating to be lowered to the more family-friendly PG-13. Dench reprised her role as M from James Bond as part of the campaign:
