Review of The Arbor (2010) by Scott G — 17 Mar 2011

I randomly picked out this movie to watch at the 13th Thessaloniki Film Festival, and it turned out to be a choice I'm very happy with.

The innovation and originality of the style and direction of this documentary are the first things worth being mentioned. I'm not sure if it can really be called a "documentary" - it's a cross between a documentary, a mockumentary and a film. The director kept the audio of the interviews she took from the real people portrayed in this film and then actors lip-synced the words. A very impressive technique, just as you thought that everything has already been done before. I also fell in love with the segments that were "street acting.".

The story itself is so highly engrossing. I didn't know who Andrea Dunbar was before this film, nor any of her children, but I fully cared about them after watching this. Such tragic, wasted lives - lives that so many of us are far away from and may not even be aware they're common stories that happen to others every day. A documentary studying neglect and lovelessness and poorness and family ties.

One of the most interesting documentaries I've ever watched. It could have been a lot stronger - especially by the end, but a really valiant effort with a lot of courage and love put into it.