The Arbor
The Arbor
Synopsis
The Arbor is the powerful true story of Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar and her troubled relationship with her daughter Lorraine.
Andrea wrote honestly and unflinchingly about her upbringing on the notorious Buttershaw Estate. When she died, tragically at the age of 29 in 1990, Lorraine was just ten years old.
The Arbor catches up with Lorraine in the present day, also at 29; ostracised from Buttershaw and now in prison, serving a sentence for manslaughter for the death of her son.
Whilst in prison and undergoing rehab, Lorraine is re-introduced to her mother's plays and private letters and as she reflects on the parallels in their lives, she begins to come to terms with her role in the death of her son.
Clio Barnard, began recording audio interviews with Lorraine Dunbar, other members of the Dunbar family and residents from the Buttershaw Estate over a period of two years. The material was edited to form an audio 'screenplay' which forms the basis for the film as actors lip-synch to the voices of the interviewees. This footage is intercut with archive footage and extracts from a re-staging of Andrea's first play.
Details
- Year
- 2009
- Type of film
- Features
- Running Time
- 88 mins
- Format
- 4K Digital
- Director
- Clio Barnard 1st Feature
- Producer
- Michael Morris
- Co-Producer
- Michael Morris
- Editor
- Nick Fenton, Daniel Goddard
- Director of Photography
- Ole Birkeland
- Production Designer
- Matt Button
- Sound
- Tim Barker
- Music
- Harry Escott, Molly Nyman
- Principal Cast
- Manjinder Virk, Christine Bottomley, Neil Dudgeon, Jimi Mistry, Kathryn Pogson, Natalie Gavin, Danny Webb, George Costigan
Production status
Complete
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Last updated 6th December 2009
