The Arbor (2010)
32 votes
A Documentary Re-Invented
Portrayal of the late Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar. Andrea Dunbar 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. The Arbor revisits the Buttershaw Estate where Dunbar grew up, thirty years on from her original play, telling the powerful true story of the playwright and her daughter Lorraine. Also aged 29, Lorraine had become ostracised from her mother’s family and was in prison undergoing rehab. Re-introduced to her mother’s plays and letters, the film follows Lorraine’s personal journey as she reflects on her own life and begins to understand the struggles her mother faced.
Read the The Arbor feature →- Box office
- $21.3K
Where to watch The Arbor
All countries & options →
Showing US. Availability data by JustWatch.
Media
Top billed cast
Full cast & crew →
Christine BottomleyLisa Thompson
Manjinder VirkLorraine Dunbar
Natalie GavinThe Girl
George CostiganJimmy 'The Wig'
Monica DolanAnn Hamilton
Neil DudgeonSteve Saul
Jimi MistryYousaf
Robert EmmsYoung David
Kate RutterThe Mother
Danny WebbMax Stafford-Clark / The Father
Matthew McNultyAndrew Dunbar
Kathryn PogsonPamela DunbarKeywords
Movie DNA
More like this
More Drama →
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing moment
Viewing momentFrequently asked questions about The Arbor
What is The Arbor about?
Portrayal of the late Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar. Andrea Dunbar 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. The Arbor revisits the Buttershaw Estate where Dunbar grew up, thirty years on from her original play, telling the powerful true story of the playwright and her daughter Lorraine. Also aged 29, Lorraine had become ostracised from her mother’s family and was in prison undergoing rehab. Re-introduced to her mother’s plays and letters, the film follows Lorraine’s personal journey as she reflects on her own life and begins to understand the struggles her mother faced.
How long is The Arbor?
The Arbor has a runtime of 94 minutes.
Where can I watch The Arbor?
Open the Vlovu watch guide for current streaming, rental, and purchase options.