Review of Orphans (1998) by Cli O — 12 May 2014
"She ain't heavy, she's my mother...".
Four siblings are driven to the edge of sanity on the eve of their mother's funeral. An episodic and uneven film, social realism for the most part but with some unexpected yet welcome surreal touches to occasionally lighten the darkness. Those contemplating a mini-break in the city of culture might be put off by the film's depiction of Glasgow as a kind of Hieronymous Bosch-style hotbed of freaks and depravity, but the four siblings demonstrate just about enough humanity to even things out. Gary Lewis and Douglas Henshall are very good as the two eldest brothers.
This review of Orphans (1998) was written by Cli O on 12 May 2014.
Orphans has generally received positive reviews.
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