Watch The Arbor

The Arbor is a unique and emotionally charged film that explores the life and legacy of Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar, known for her work in the 1980s. The film is an unconventional mix of documentary and drama, providing viewers with a raw and unfiltered look at Dunbar's troubled life and the impact of her work on her family and community.

The film is set in the Buttershaw estate, where Dunbar grew up and where many of her plays were set. The estate is a place of poverty, crime and social deprivation, and the film highlights the difficult reality of life for those who live there. The film is structured around interviews with Dunbar's family and friends, as well as dramatic re-enactments of scenes from her plays, read by local actors. The result is a haunting and powerful portrait of a woman whose life was cut short by addiction and poverty.

The Arbor is a deeply personal and moving film that tackles tough issues such as domestic abuse, neglect, and addiction. The film is not afraid to show the dark and difficult side of Dunbar's life, but it also celebrates her talent and her ability to capture the struggles of working-class life through her writing. The re-enactments of her plays are particularly effective, giving viewers a sense of the world that she was writing about and the emotions that her characters were feeling.

The film is also notable for its use of innovative techniques to blur the boundaries between documentary and drama. The interviews with Dunbar's family and friends are shot on a set resembling the Buttershaw estate, with the interviewees sitting in front of projected images of the area. This creates a sense of immersion and realism that draws viewers into the story.

Another key element of the film is the use of a young actress, Natalie Gavin, to portray Dunbar in the dramatic scenes. Gavin gives a powerful performance that captures the spirit and energy of Dunbar, but also the pain and difficulty that she experienced in her life. The decision to use a young actress to play Dunbar is particularly effective, as it highlights the tragedy of her life being cut short and the potential that was lost.

Overall, The Arbor is a thought-provoking and moving film that explores complex issues in a unique and innovative way. It is a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, and one that highlights the importance of art in reflecting the experiences and struggles of everyday people. For anyone interested in the life and work of Andrea Dunbar, or in the intersection of documentary and drama, this is a film not to be missed.

The Arbor is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 88.