A street in Bradford, Northern England known as "The Arbor" left an indelible impression on playwright Andrea Dunbar. She grew up there, named her first play after it and based all of her subsequent work there, of which her best known Rita Sue and Bob Too was adapted successfully for the big screen in 1987. She died tragically at the age of 29, leaving 3 young children.
Director Clio Barnard could have adapated Dunbar's play The Arbor for the screen or made a conventional documentary on her life, but instead she has crafted a captivating and truly unique work that transcends genre and defies categorization. Following two years conducting audio interviews with Dunbar's family, friends and neighbours, Barnard filmed actors lip-synching the interviews, flawlessly interpreting every breath, tick and nuance. Barnard's film focuses in particular on the playwright's troubled relationship with her daughter Lorraine who was just 10 when her mother died. Barnard connects with Lorraine, now aged 29 herself, to re-introduce her to her mother's plays and private letters, prompting her to reflect on the extraordinary parallels between their lives.
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