‘The Lion at My Back’ Review: An Asylum Seeker and a Former Drug Addict Face the World in Different Ways in a Promising but Pat Redemption Tale

"The Lion at My Back" tells two parallel stories: one of a young asylum seeker, the other of a former drug addict. Variety's Guy Lodge says the film makes a case for recognizing what these two characters have in common, arguing that our shared struggles matter more than our different circumstances. But while the premise is promising, Lodge notes, the film's execution leans toward the formulaic—the kind of redemption arc that feels well-meaning but a little pat.

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