Lion

We’re past the days when faces on the sides of milk cartons were an effective tool in locating missing children. In Lion, it’s technology that prompts the attempt at a family reunion, even in a remote corner of the world.

This crowd-pleasing drama tells a powerful true-life story about the lasting bonds of family that aren’t broken by time or distance apart, while showcasing the ways in which technology brings us together for better instead of for worse.

When we meet Saroo (Sunny Pawar), he’s a precocious 5-year-old growing up in a small-town Indian slum who becomes separated from his older brother (Abhishek Bharate) during some mischief, and winds up alone on a train. Saroo then endures a cross-country odyssey, uncertain where he’s going or how to get home. He’s remarkably well adjusted considering the circumstances, winding up in an orphanage in Calcutta.

That’s where he’s adopted by John (David Wenham) and Sue (Nicole Kidman), a caring couple who lives on the Australian island of Tasmania. However, Sue carries emotional baggage of her own, which causes friction 25 years later when Saroo (Dev Patel) and his girlfriend (Rooney Mara) use Google Earth in a desperate effort to bring closure by tracking down his long-lost family.

Some details of the true-life source material are clearly embellished in the screenplay by Luke Davies (Life), which is adapted from Saroo’s memoir. Yet although some of the drama feels manufactured — including a harrowing early sequence involving child traffickers — and it occasionally strains to be uplifting, the story carries a raw emotional resonance that crosses cultural and geographic boundaries.

As directed by newcomer Garth Davis, the first segment is especially poignant. It’s easy to fall for the plight of this wide-eyed boy forced to rely on his resilience and resourcefulness as a stranger in a strange land. And the expressive performance by Pawar feels natural.

There are no traditional villains here, except perhaps some general indifference or ignorance. In that sense, it offers a worthwhile lesson about childhood innocence, unseen heroes, and the kindness of strangers.

Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) brings depth to his portrayal of the adult Saroo, while the film conveys his inner turmoil with heartfelt sensitivity. Even if you don’t know the outcome, you can guess how it’s going to turn out. Still, in the case of Lion, success is not about the destination, but the journey.

Rated PG-13, 118 minutes.