“Philomena,” September 17, 2014 (2013), DVD. Judy Dench (Oscar nomination for the role) is marvelous as the title character in this 2013 drama about an elderly Irish woman seeking to reconnect and discover the story of her biological son who she gave birth to in the 1950s at a Catholic abbey/laundry set up to house ‘wayward girls’ and loose women. A scathing look at these institutions and the Church’s abuse of these young women. The Irish government, a never-mentioned co-conspirator, gets off scot free. Based on a true story, she connects with Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan, who co-wrote and brought the project into being by buying the film rights to the book, in addition to starring), a former 10 Downing St Labor Party PR flack. This very odd couple follows the trail to the United States and then back to Ireland. It’s a journey—often humorous–of self-discovery and introspection for both. I recommend the DVD with interviews with Dench, Coogan, and the real Philomena regarding the story behind the film. Some of it clearly (and very self-consciously) involves Coogan working through his issues regarding religion and the Church. As an adoptive parent in an international adoption, the film left me wondering again about things I worried about 19 years ago.