Clio Barnard’s innovative portrayal of the late Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar
When Andrea Dunbar tragically died at the age of 29 in 1990, she left behind ten-year-old Lorraine with bitter childhood memories. The Arbor catches up with Lorraine in the present day, also aged 29, ostracised from her mother’s family and in prison undergoing rehab.
Re-introduced to her mother’s plays and letters, the film follows Lorraine’s personal journey as she reflects on her own life and begins to understand the struggles her mother faced. Through interviews with other members of the Dunbar family, we see a contrasting view of Andrea, in particular from Lorraine’s younger sister Lisa, who idolises Andrea to this day.
Transcending genre and defying categorisation, The Arbor is a truly unique work, a celebration of Dunbar’s triumphs and a dissection her legacy, both from a wider social perspective and on a personal level as we witness the pain of her short and tragic life.
"Imaginative, compelling and heart-rending" - Daily Express
Introduction by Anna Coatman
This screening will be introduced by Anna Coatman. Anna is a writer and editor based in West Yorkshire. She has written for publications including Another Gaze, London Review of Books, Sight & Sound, Times Literary Supplement, Tribune and The White Review.
- Director: Clio Barnard
- Cast: Manjinder Virk, Neil Dudgeon, Monica Dolan
- Language: English
Northern Soul
Presented at Pictureville Cinema in the newly reopened National Science & Media Museum, the season is curated for Bradford 2025 by Clio Barnard, the West Yorkshire-raised writer director of The Arbor, centred on Bradford writer Andrea Dunbar, The Selfish Giant and Ali & Ava, a moving romance set in the city.
The selections in Northern Soul span six decades, from a ’60s British New Wave classic to the latest feature from one of our most exciting directors. They transport us everywhere from the Yorkshire Moors to the Wigan Casino, Blackpool Beach to the North East. And together, they showcase the diversity of perspective, experience and imagination that defines the northern female voice in film.
Northern Soul is part of Bradford: A City of Film, a programme of independent film across the Bradford District. Co-Produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and National Science and Media Museum with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery.
