The biggest-earning Spanish film in Spain in 2007, THE ORPHANAGE follows in the footsteps of THE OTHERS and EL ESPINAZO DEL DIABLO (whose director served as producer for this feature début). Laura (Belén), her husband (Cayo) and young son Simón (Príncep) move to a former orphanage where she’d lived as a child. But the place has a disturbing effect on Simón who befriends some disconcerting imaginary playmates. THE ORPHANAGE is a story of grief, remorse and maternal longing, cloaked in the ghostly garb of a classic chiller. Spain’s submission to the 2008 Oscars and a leader in this year’s Goya nominations, EL ORFANATO has been bought for a US remake.
Review
“A beautiful combination of terror, poetry, emotion and intelligence.” Channel 4