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Deep Dive: The Arbor (2010)

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The Arbor
The Arbor is a British film from 2010 directed by Clio Barnard, focusing on the life of playwright Andrea Dunbar and her relationship with her daughter Lorraine. The film employs a unique technique where actors lip-synch to audio interviews with Dunbar and her family, set against the backdrop of Brafferton Arbor, a street in the Buttershaw Estate in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where Dunbar lived. The narrative centers on the complexities of familial ties and the impact of Dunbar's life and work on her family. The film incorporates elements of verbatim theatre, featuring audio recordings of Lorraine Dunbar and other family members, performed by professional actors in designed environments. It also includes scenes from Dunbar’s autobiographical play The Arbor, the film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, and other works associated with her. Barnard's initial aim was to capture the changes in Brafferton Arbor, but the focus shifted to Andrea Dunbar after discussions with Lorraine, highlighting the personal aspects of Dunbar's legacy.

Why Watch

  • •See Andrea Dunbar's life through unique lip-synching performances.
  • •Find out about the impact of Dunbar's work on her family.
  • •Meet the residents of Buttershaw Estate in Bradford.

Did You Know

•The Arbor was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2010.
•The film won the Sutherland Trophy at the BFI London Film Festival in 2010.
•Clio Barnard had previously used a similar technique in her 1998 short film Random Acts of Intimacy.
•The film holds a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 46 reviews.

Perfect For

British theatre enthusiastsFans of documentary filmsPeople interested in family dynamics