THE ARBOR

Year: 2010
USA: Strand Releasing
UK: Verve Pictures
Cast: Manjinder Virk, Neil Dudgeon, Monica Dolan, Danny Webb, Christine Bottomley, Kathryn Pogson, Natalie Gavin, Jonathan Jaynes, Jimi Mistry, George Costigan, Kulvinder Ghir, Robery Emms
Director: Clio Barnard
Country: UK
USA & UK: 94 mins
USA Rated: Not rated
UK Certificate: 15 contains hard drug use and references and strong language, some racist
USA Release Date: 27 April 2011 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 22 October 2010 (Limited Release)

Synopsis

THE ARBOR is the powerful true story of Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar (The Arbor, Rita, Sue and Bob Too) and her daughter Lorraine.

Andrea wrote honestly and unflinchingly about her upbringing on the notorious Buttershaw Estate in Bradford and was described as ‘a genius straight from the slums.’ When she died, tragically at the age of 29 in 1990, Lorraine was just ten years old.

Lorraine is now also 29; ostracised from her mother’s family and in prison undergoing rehab. From interviews with Lorraine, she describes her mother as a destructive force throughout her childhood; an alcoholic who let her suffer abuse and whom Lorraine blames for all her current circumstances. However, Lorraine’s younger sister Lisa, idolises Andrea to this day.