RED CARPET : LION @ THE STATE THEATRE

LION, based on the autobiographical book, A LONG WAY HOME by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose, tells the story of how Saroo, adopted by a loving couple in Tasmania, with the help of Google, searches for and finds his birth mother.

Nicole Kidman hugs Sue Brierley

Nicole Kidman stars as his adoptive mother Sue Brierley and David Wenham plays his adoptive father John. Dev Patel stars as Saroo.

The film’s Sydney premiere took place on the 19th December at the State Theatre saw the real life Brierley’s join their celebrity counterparts on the red carpet.

The director Garth Davis, the writer Luke Davies, the producers and all the major stars attended with the exception of Rooney Mara stayed after the screening to participate in a Q and A.

In order to qualify for the US awards season, the film premiered first in Australia and as a result already has garnered a number of Golden Globe and Screen Guild nominations.

Both Nicole Kidman and producer Emilie Sherman  were almost apologetic in making Sydney the last of its Roadshow premieres however they were especially pleased that it was the climax of their premieres as the film had returned ‘home’.

LION opens nationally on the 19th January 2017.

Featured image-  Stars Nicole Kidman and David Wenham. All images by Ben Apfelbaum (c).