The Arbor

There is cinema verité and there are films that are called a tragedy. Both of these descriptions fit the Arbor far more than most other films ever will. The film is about Andrea Dunbar, writer of Rita, Sue and Bob Too. She came from Bradford in Yorkshire and lived on an estate, which before they were sold off, would have been an estate of council houses. She died in 1990 after fighting alcoholism and related issues. The story goes on to talk about her eldest daughter Lorraine and her travails with drug addiction and prison.

The construction of the film is fascinating. The protagonists recorded their recollections of what happened and then actors lip synched to their voices. At the same time this gives the appearance of a play, you know that they are acting, but at the same time there is the reality of what is being said as well. The piece as well has parts of Dunbar’s plays interspersed throughout as well. This underpins the reality of her work and highlights what happened to her in terms of her writing.

It is of course selective in what is presented and what is said about the situations portrayed. I don’t know what Andrea Dunbar’s family think of the film but it is all too evident that feelings run deep about all sorts of issues and occurrences. Film is designed to move people and to affect them emotionally. It is however rare to find a film so real with such real emotions running all the way through. This film should be highly commended.