Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 12/28/07 (Limited) 01/11/08 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for some disturbing content Running Time 1 hour 45 minutes Genre Drama, Foreign, Suspense, Horror Director Juan Antonio Bayona Writer Sergio G. Sánchez Cast Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Geraldine Chaplin, Montserrat Carulla, Mabel Rivera, Andrés Gertrúdix Studio Picturehouse Films |
THE ORPHANAGE (2007)
SYNOPSIS
A woman discovers dark secrets hidden within her
cherished childhood home in the
supernatural thriller THE ORPHANAGE. Laura (Belén
Reuda) returns to the stately orphanage by the sea
where she spent the best years of her childhood.
She and her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) plan to
re-open it as a center for sick and disabled children.
In its years of solitude, however, the orphanage has
acquired a haunted, unhappy air. Their seven-year-
old son Simon (Roger Princep) is an inquisitive boy
with a vivid imagination, which includes two
imaginary friends. Soon Simon’s circle of unseen
friends expands to include more boys and girls. As
the opening day of the children’s center approaches,
tension grows among the family. Simon wants only
to play with his invisible friends, frustrating his
parents. But while Carlos believes he is merely
acting out to get their attention, Laura suspects that
her son’s behavior is tied to something deeper and
darker concealed within the house’s history. Then,
the unthinkable: while parents and children enjoy
games and sweets at the center’s opening party,
Simon insists on playing in his own private world …
and disappears. Anchoring the film is the fearless
performance by its star, award-winning Spanish
actress Belén Rueda (THE SEA INSIDE), portraying a
mother desperate to rescue her family from the
nightmare into which she has unwittingly led them.
THE ORPHANAGE is a film about the fragility of life,
the agony of loss and the depth of a mother’s love.
.-- ©Picturehouse Films
A woman discovers dark secrets hidden within her
cherished childhood home in the
supernatural thriller THE ORPHANAGE. Laura (Belén
Reuda) returns to the stately orphanage by the sea
where she spent the best years of her childhood.
She and her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) plan to
re-open it as a center for sick and disabled children.
In its years of solitude, however, the orphanage has
acquired a haunted, unhappy air. Their seven-year-
old son Simon (Roger Princep) is an inquisitive boy
with a vivid imagination, which includes two
imaginary friends. Soon Simon’s circle of unseen
friends expands to include more boys and girls. As
the opening day of the children’s center approaches,
tension grows among the family. Simon wants only
to play with his invisible friends, frustrating his
parents. But while Carlos believes he is merely
acting out to get their attention, Laura suspects that
her son’s behavior is tied to something deeper and
darker concealed within the house’s history. Then,
the unthinkable: while parents and children enjoy
games and sweets at the center’s opening party,
Simon insists on playing in his own private world …
and disappears. Anchoring the film is the fearless
performance by its star, award-winning Spanish
actress Belén Rueda (THE SEA INSIDE), portraying a
mother desperate to rescue her family from the
nightmare into which she has unwittingly led them.
THE ORPHANAGE is a film about the fragility of life,
the agony of loss and the depth of a mother’s love.
.-- ©Picturehouse Films
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
The Orphanage directed by Juan Antonio Bayona stars Belen Rueda as Laura, who was raised in an
orphanage as a young child before being adopted. Now a grown woman, Laura has returned with her
husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and their young son, Simon (Roger Princep), to purchase the
orphanage and open as a home for children with special needs. Laura begins having horrifying
imagines of what may of happened to her friends that she left behind after being adopted. Simon seems
to be having problems too. He has created an imaginary friend. Things go from bad to worse when a
social worker (Montserrat Carulla) appears and after her visit Simon learns he is adopted and dying.
Simon disappears. Now, was Simon real or just a child created in Laura's mind? Not any blood or gore,
but Bayona has a good half-dozen moments that will have chills running down your back. If you a looking
to be scared, you won't be disappointed!
orphanage as a young child before being adopted. Now a grown woman, Laura has returned with her
husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and their young son, Simon (Roger Princep), to purchase the
orphanage and open as a home for children with special needs. Laura begins having horrifying
imagines of what may of happened to her friends that she left behind after being adopted. Simon seems
to be having problems too. He has created an imaginary friend. Things go from bad to worse when a
social worker (Montserrat Carulla) appears and after her visit Simon learns he is adopted and dying.
Simon disappears. Now, was Simon real or just a child created in Laura's mind? Not any blood or gore,
but Bayona has a good half-dozen moments that will have chills running down your back. If you a looking
to be scared, you won't be disappointed!
