Orphans (1998 film)

Last updated

Orphans
Orphans (1998) Film Poster.jpg
Directed by Peter Mullan
Written byPeter Mullan
Produced byPaddy Higson
Starring Douglas Henshall
Gary Lewis
Rosemarie Stevenson
CinematographyGrant Scott Cameron
Music by Craig Armstrong
Production
company
Release dates
  • 3 September 1998 (1998-09-03)(Venice)
  • 7 May 1999 (1999-05-07)(United Kingdom)
  • March 10, 2000 (2000-03-10)(limited)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Orphans is a 1998 Scottish black comedy film written and directed by Peter Mullan and starring Douglas Henshall, Gary Lewis and Rosemarie Stevenson.

Contents

This was the first full-length film directed by Mullan, who later won a Best Actor award at Cannes for My Name is Joe , and who went on to direct The Magdalene Sisters and Neds . He has said that the film is not autobiographical, but that he wrote the film shortly after the death of his mother, and that each of the four main characters represent an element of what he was feeling at the time. [1]

The film was funded by Channel 4 Films, the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund, and the Glasgow Film Fund. [2] The soundtrack includes music by Craig Armstrong, and Billy Connolly singing Mairi's Wedding and two songs he wrote for the film.

Plot

On a grey day in Glasgow, Scotland, three brothers and their disabled sister meet to arrange their mother, Mrs Flynn's, funeral. Afterwards, they go to a public house and an incident occurs which separates the four and causes one to go on the search for a gun and one to pass off their stab wound as a work injury. The eldest brother stays overnight at the church to prepare for the funeral as their sister's wheelchair breaks down in a dark alleyway, causing her to be stranded and alone, desperate for help. What occurs is a journey of virtue and sin for each of them that will prove to them how much they truly miss their mother.

Cast

Release

The film was first shown at the 1998 Venice Film Festival in the International Film Critics' Week section. [3] Having funded production, Channel Four Films decided not to distribute the film as they did not think it would attract a large commercial audience. [1]

In interviews, Mullan has said that once Orphans started winning awards, Channel Four apologised and asked if they could distribute it, an offer he refused. [1]

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Orphans has an approval rating of 47% based on 19 reviews. [4]

In a review that awarded the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, Roger Ebert commented that the film has an uneven tone. He wrote, "On one hand it tells the gritty story of three brothers and their handicapped sister in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 24 hours after their mother dies. On the other hand, it involves events that would be at home in a comedy of the absurd. When the sister's wheelchair topples a statue of the Virgin Mary and the damage is blamed on high winds that lifted the roof off a church, we have left the land of realism." [5] In contrast, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle reviewed the film positively, saying it "deals with grief and family in sensitive ways, while consistently coming up with moments of absurd comedy that somehow fit". [6]

Accolades

The won four awards for Mullan: the Cult Network Italia Prize, the Isvema Award, the Kodak Award and the Prix Pierrot. In 1998, it also won prizes at the Gijón International Film Festival, [7] and the British Independent Film Awards. [8] It won the Grand Prix at the 1999 Festival du Film de Paris [9] and won Mullan the Best Newcomer Award at the 2000 Evening Standard British Film Awards. [10]

Musical adaptation

In 2021, it was announced that the film had been adapted into a musical with the National Theatre of Scotland. [11] It was adapted by Douglas Maxwell with original music written and composed by Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly. The show starred Robert Florence, Reuben Joseph, Dylan Wood and Amy Conachan amongst others. The show opened at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow in April 2022 to a very positive reception. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andie MacDowell</span> American actress and model (born 1958)

Rosalie Anderson MacDowell is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell is known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. She has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 1986.

<i>Happiness</i> (1998 film) 1998 American black comedy film by Todd Solondz

Happiness is a 1998 American black comedy film written and directed by Todd Solondz, that portrays the lives of three sisters, their families, and those around them. The film was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for "its bold tracking of controversial contemporary themes, richly-layered subtext, and remarkable fluidity of visual style," and the cast received the National Board of Review award for best ensemble performance.

<i>Gregorys Girl</i> 1981 Scottish film

Gregory's Girl is a 1980 Scottish coming-of-age romantic comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth and starring John Gordon Sinclair, Dee Hepburn and Clare Grogan. The film is set in and around a state secondary school in the Abronhill district of Cumbernauld.

<i>Born into Brothels</i> 2004 film by Zana Briski

Born into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids is a 2004 Indian-American documentary film about the children of prostitutes in Sonagachi, Kolkata's red light district. The widely acclaimed film, written and directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman, won a string of accolades including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2005.

<i>The Magdalene Sisters</i> 2002 British-Irish film by Peter Mullan

The Magdalene Sisters is a 2002 drama film written and directed by Peter Mullan, about three teenage girls who were sent to Magdalene asylums, homes for women who were labelled as "fallen" by their families or society. The homes were maintained by individual religious orders, usually by the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Mackenzie (director)</span> British film director

David Hugh Mackenzie is a Scottish film director and co-founder of the Glasgow-based production company Sigma Films. He has made ten feature films including Young Adam (2003), Hallam Foe (2007), Perfect Sense (2011) and Starred Up (2013). In 2016, Mackenzie's film Hell or High Water premiered at Cannes and was theatrically released in the United States in August. The same year he executive produced Damnation, a TV pilot for Universal and USA Network. Mackenzie also directed Outlaw King (2018), a historical film for Netflix. Mackenzie and his films have been described as not fitting neatly into any particular genre or type.

<i>The Cider House Rules</i> (film) 1999 film by Lasse Hallström

The Cider House Rules is a 1999 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström from a screenplay by John Irving, based on Irving's 1985 novel of the same name. Its story follows Homer Wells, who lives in a World War II–era Maine orphanage run by a doctor who trained him, and his journey after leaving the orphanage. The film stars Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Michael Caine, Jane Alexander, Kathy Baker, Kieran Culkin, Heavy D, Kate Nelligan, and Erykah Badu.

<i>High Hopes</i> (1988 film) 1988 British film

High Hopes is a 1988 British comedy drama film directed by Mike Leigh, focusing on an extended working-class family living in King's Cross, London, and elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Mullan</span> Scottish actor and filmmaker (born 1959)

Peter Mullan is a Scottish actor and filmmaker. His credits include Riff-Raff (1991), Shallow Grave (1994), Braveheart (1995), Trainspotting (1996), My Name Is Joe (1998), The Claim (2000), Neds (2010), War Horse (2011), The Fixer (2008), Top of the Lake (2013), Mum (2016-2019), Ozark (2017-2018), Westworld (2018-2020), Cursed (2020), The North Water (2021), The Underground Railroad, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), After the Party (2023), and Baghead (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Henshall</span> Scottish actor (born 1965)

Douglas “Dougie” James Henshall is a Scottish television, film and stage actor. He is best known for his roles as Professor Nick Cutter in the science fiction series Primeval (2007–2011) and Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez in the crime drama Shetland (2013–2022).

<i>Northfork</i> 2003 film

Northfork is a 2003 fantasy drama film directed by Michael Polish and written by Michael and Mark Polish. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2003 and later received a limited release in the United States on July 11, 2003. The film stars Duel Farnes, James Woods, Nick Nolte, Michele Hicks, Daryl Hannah, Anthony Edwards, Robin Sachs, Ben Foster, Claire Forlani, Clark Gregg, Kyle MacLachlan and Peter Coyote. This is the brothers' third film collaboration, after Twin Falls Idaho (1999) and Jackpot (2001).

<i>The Queen</i> (2006 film) 2006 biographical drama film by Stephen Frears

The Queen is a 2006 historical drama film directed by Stephen Frears and written by Peter Morgan. The film depicts the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. The royal family regards Diana's death as a private affair and thus not to be treated as an official royal death, in contrast with the views of Prime Minister Tony Blair and Diana's ex-husband, Prince Charles, who favour the general public's desire for an official expression of grief. Matters are further complicated by the media, royal protocol regarding Diana's official status, and wider issues about republicanism.

<i>Household Saints</i> 1993 American film

Household Saints is a 1993 film starring Tracey Ullman, Vincent D'Onofrio and Lili Taylor. It is based on the novel by Francine Prose and directed by Nancy Savoca. The film explores the lives of three generations of Italian-American women over the course of the latter half of the 20th century. The film's executive producer is Jonathan Demme, a long-time friend of Savoca's, and her first real employer in the world of film. In 2023, the film received a 4K restoration from Milestone Films, who later gave the film a theatrical release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Lewis (actor)</span> Scottish actor (born 1957)

Gary Stevenson, better known as Gary Lewis, is a Scottish actor. He has had roles in films such as Billy Elliot (2000), Gangs of New York (2002), Joyeux Noël (2005) and Eragon (2006), as well as major roles in the television docudrama Supervolcano and the Starz series Outlander.

<i>Doubt</i> (2008 film) 2008 American drama film

Doubt is a 2008 American drama film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, based on his Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning 2004 stage play Doubt: A Parable. Produced by Scott Rudin, the film takes place in a Catholic elementary school named for St. Nicholas. The film stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis.

Scotland has produced many films, directors and actors.

<i>Life, Above All</i> 2010 film

Life, Above All is a 2010 South African drama film directed by Oliver Schmitz. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. The film was selected as the South African entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards and made the final shortlist announced in January 2011. The film was adapted from the 2004 novel Chanda's Secrets by Allan Stratton.

<i>Tyrannosaur</i> (film) 2011 British drama film

Tyrannosaur is a 2011 British drama film written and directed by Paddy Considine and starring Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan, Paul Popplewell and Sally Carman.

<i>Tommys Honour</i> 2016 film

Tommy's Honour is a 2016 historical drama film depicting the lives and careers of, and the complex relationship between, the pioneering Scottish golfing champions Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom Morris. The film is directed by Jason Connery, and the father and son are portrayed by Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden. The film won Best Feature Film at the 2016 British Academy Scotland Awards.

<i>Mad to Be Normal</i> 2017 British film

Mad to Be Normal is a 2017 British drama film directed by Robert Mullan and written by Robert Mullan and Tracy Moreton. The film stars David Tennant, Elisabeth Moss, Gabriel Byrne, Michael Gambon, David Bamber, Olivia Poulet and Trevor White. The film was released on 6 April 2017 by GSP Studios International.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Guardian/NFT interview: Peter Mullan". The Guardian . 4 November 2003. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  2. "Full record for 'Orphans'". Scottish Screen Archive. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. "13th International Film Critics' Week". sicvenezia.it. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  4. "Orphans". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  5. Ebert, Roger (10 March 2000). "Orphans". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  6. LaSalle, Mick (10 March 2000). "Scottish 'Orphans' Cope Weirdly Without Mom / Pathos, black humor mix as siblings work out their feelings". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  7. "Playing sir …with love". HeraldScotland. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. "Orphans". British Independent Film Awards. 11 October 1998. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  9. "Orphans primé au Festival de Paris". AlloCiné (in French). 15 April 1999. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. "Evening Standard British Film Awards 1990-2001". Evening Standard. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  11. "Orphans – a new Scottish musical reveals complete casting". whatsonstage.com. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  12. Fisher, Mark (8 April 2022). "Orphans review – buoyant musical about death, grief and boozing". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 21 July 2023.