The tear-jerking rollercoaster that is the movie Lion was recently nominated for Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars. Released November 25, 2016, this drama film is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley and tells the story of a young boy who loses his way, but eventually finds home with the help of his loved ones, modern technology, and above all, hope.

The film starts by introducing 5-year old Saroo, a young boy who lives in Ganesh Talai, a small rural village in India. He lives in poverty with his older brother Guddu, his baby sister Shakila, and his mother who carries rocks and does other labor work for a living. One night, when he goes to the train station with Guddu to look for work, he ends up falling asleep. Guddu tells him that he’ll be back, but when Saroo wakes up, he panics and starts searching for him. Saroo boards a train, thinking Guddu is on it, and yet again falls into a deep sleep. However, when he wakes up, Saroo’s life will be forever changed.

The train runs for days, taking Saroo far away from his home. He gets off in a city in India that speaks a different language, leaving Saroo to fend for himself in 1986 Calcutta. He survives in the foreign city for three weeks before he is taken to an orphanage. There, he is adopted by an Australian couple and taken to Tasmania, Australia where he lives as a normal boy. Saroo lives carefree in Tasmania for 25 years before his past begins to haunt him. With some help from his friends and girlfriend, Saroo uses Google Earth and memory of his hometown to pinpoint the location of his family. Even with modern technology, it was not an easy process. According to History VS. Hollywood, “It would take approximately six years of researching and studying Google Earth until he believed he found the area where he had lived as a child. He would stop periodically at times out of frustration.”

What started as a tragedy is healed by a miracle. Lion will bring both sad and happy tears to your eyes. Rated 8.6/10 on IMDb and 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, this film will be one that truly sticks with you. The New York Times describes Lion saying, “If you have ever been a child, raised a child, lost a child or met a child — or a mother — this movie will wreck you. As a purely emotional experience it succeeds without feeling too manipulative or maudlin.” This touching film is a great movie to watch on a rainy weekend, and it is highly recommended by many. Eighth grader Ofelia Yeghiyan reviews, “It’s really emotional and powerful. The suspense is held throughout the whole movie until the end, and it’s full of tough moments and incredible performances by Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel. It’s wrenching and original, and a must-see.”

If you’re looking for a sorrowful drama, this ravishing true story will take you through the twists and turns of Saroo Brierley’s life. Lion shows what family truly means, and that hardships, no matter how large, can be overcome with love.