(aka "The Orphanage" )
directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
Spain 2007
Laura
(Belén Rueda) buys the orphanage where she lived as a
child in order to turn it into a home for handicapped
children. Her son Simón (Roger Príncep) has already made
some invisible friends including one named Tomas who
likes to play a find the hidden treasure game. After a
visit from mysterious social worker Benigna (Montserrat
Carulla) who knows that Simón was adopted and is HIV
positive, Simón goes missing. Laura's husband Carlos
(Fernando Cayo) is convinced that their son has been
abducted but Laura becomes convinced that her son's
imaginary friends might not be so imaginary and makes a
gruesome discovery when she plays the hidden treasure
game. A visit from a medium (Geraldine Chaplin) sheds
more light on a past tragedy at the orphanage after
Laura was adopted. Fearing for his wife's mental health,
a skeptical Carlos decides they should leave the
orphanage. Laura gets him to agree to let her stay two
more days on her own to say goodbye to her memories.
With her husband gone, Laura decides to play with the
children in hopes of finding her missing son who she
insists is still alive. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: 11 January 2008
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: New Line Cinema - Region 1 - NTSC
Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!
DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
New Line Cinema Region 1 - NTSC |
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Runtime | 1:45:36 | |
Video |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate |
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Audio | Spanish DTS-6.1; Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish 2.0 Stereo Surround | |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, none | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: New Line Cinema Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 24 |
Comments: |
New Line provides the usual audio options for one of their prestige titles: DTS, 5.1 and 2.0 stereo surround and all are typically impressive. The dual-layered, progressive 2.35:1 image is fine as expected. Extras are typical press kit material (photo galleries are divided by subject, trailers and poster art fall under the heading of marketing campaign; the Tomas' Secret Room segments have their own separate intros so each could be dropped in when a TV program runs under) and quite comprehensive but will likely interest only those who liked the film.
Plenty of the comments by the
filmmakers and cast about the emotional depth of the film and its
characterizations are actually redundant in this case since that aspect
of the film stands up on its own quite well. |
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DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
New Line Cinema Region 1 - NTSC |