The Arbor (2010)
Directed by: Clio Barnard
Genre: Documentary | Biography
Running Time: 94 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly
A documentary reinvented.
[IMDb]
Comments: I discovered Clio Barnard's documentary The Arbor through one of my favorite podcasts, Filmspotting (I know I've mentioned them before). They championed the film as their 2011 Golden Brick winner (the Golden Brick is a film made by a newer director that may not get as much recognition as it deserves; past winners include Dogtooth and Moon), so I was immediately interested in checking it out. The film expires on September 6th on Netflix Watch Instantly, so I wanted to catch it out before I lost the opportunity.
The Arbor is an odd yet interesting documentary. Barnard takes the typical "talking head" format and flips it, using actors to lip synch the dialogue that the original interviewees provided. The story of The Arbor is of British playwright Andrea Dunbar, who used her experiences growing up in "The Arbor," a poor lower class neighborhood, to write a play as a teenager. She had a turbulent, alcohol-filled life, having three kids to three different men before dying at age 29. The story then shifts to her children, and how Dunbar's lack of parenting affected them. Needless to say, it didn't turn out well.
The use of actors is interesting. At times it works, as the actors are able to play out certain scenes that create a distinct visual representation of what's going on. At other times, however, it feels false - mainly during the film's more emotional scenes. Hearing the actual people crying made me really want to see their faces - not the actors' portrayal of it. Regardless, The Arbor is a solid film that really had me invested in the story of the Dunbars. It's rough at times, but oddly compelling - enough to warrant a solid recommendation.
The Arbor is an odd yet interesting documentary. Barnard takes the typical "talking head" format and flips it, using actors to lip synch the dialogue that the original interviewees provided. The story of The Arbor is of British playwright Andrea Dunbar, who used her experiences growing up in "The Arbor," a poor lower class neighborhood, to write a play as a teenager. She had a turbulent, alcohol-filled life, having three kids to three different men before dying at age 29. The story then shifts to her children, and how Dunbar's lack of parenting affected them. Needless to say, it didn't turn out well.
The use of actors is interesting. At times it works, as the actors are able to play out certain scenes that create a distinct visual representation of what's going on. At other times, however, it feels false - mainly during the film's more emotional scenes. Hearing the actual people crying made me really want to see their faces - not the actors' portrayal of it. Regardless, The Arbor is a solid film that really had me invested in the story of the Dunbars. It's rough at times, but oddly compelling - enough to warrant a solid recommendation.
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