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Lion

Lion is a 2016 Australian biographical drama film directed by Garth Davis.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Lion is a 2016 Australian biographical drama film directed by Garth Davis. It is based on Saroo Brierley’s memoir *A Long Way Home* and dramatizes Brierley’s childhood separation from his family in India, his adoption by an Australian couple, and his later search for his birth family. The film stars Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, and David Wenham.

Plot

The film follows a young Indian boy, Saroo Brierley, who becomes lost after boarding the wrong train. He is eventually adopted by an Australian couple. As an adult, Saroo uses his memories and Google Earth to search for his birth family in India. Dev Patel portrays the adult Saroo, while Sunny Pawar plays Saroo as a child.

Production and release

Lion was directed by Garth Davis in his feature directorial debut and written by Luke Davies. The film was released in 2016 as an Australian biographical drama.

Source material

The film is based on Saroo Brierley’s memoir *A Long Way Home*, which recounts the true events that inspired the screenplay.

Reception

Lion received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film was also recognized for its performances and direction.

Key facts

  • Lion tells the true story of Saroo Brierley’s separation from his family in India and his later reunion search.
  • The film is adapted from Brierley’s memoir *A Long Way Home*.
  • It was directed by Garth Davis in his feature directorial debut.
  • Dev Patel plays adult Saroo, and Sunny Pawar plays Saroo as a child.
  • The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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Canadian context

Lion screened internationally and is relevant to Canadian viewers through its wide English-language release and awards attention, but it is not specifically set in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lion about?
It is about Saroo Brierley, who was separated from his family as a child in India, adopted in Australia, and later searched for his birth family.
Is Lion based on a true story?
Yes. It is based on the memoir *A Long Way Home* by Saroo Brierley.
Who directed Lion?
Garth Davis directed the film.
Who stars in Lion?
The film stars Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, and David Wenham.
When was Lion released?
It was released in 2016.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_(2016_film)
    Supports: Director, cast, release year, and basis in Saroo Brierley’s memoir.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lion-2016-film
    Supports: Identification of Lion as a 2016 film by Garth Davis.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lion_2016
    Supports: Synopsis, director, release year, runtime, genre, and cast.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commondensemedia.org/movie-reviews/lion
    Supports: Plot summary and release information.
  5. People — https://www.people.com/movies/lion-movie-true-story-saroo-brierley/
    Supports: True-story background and memoir basis.
  6. Facts.net — https://facts.net/movie/45-facts-about-the-movie-lion/
    Supports: Claim that the film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.