The Orphanage (2007)
"El orfanato" (original title)

A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, where she opens an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend.

Director:

Juan Antonio Bayona

Writer:

Sergio G. Sánchez (screenplay)

Stars:

Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep

33 wins & 34 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Belén Rueda	...	Laura
Fernando Cayo	...	Carlos
Roger Príncep	...	Simón
Mabel Rivera	...	Pilar
Montserrat Carulla	...	Benigna
Andrés Gertrúdix	...	Enrique
Edgar Vivar	...	Prof. Leo Bálaban
Óscar Casas	...	Tomás
Mireia Renau	...	Laura niña
Georgina Avellaneda	...	Rita
Carla Gordillo	...	Martín
Alejandro Camps	...	Víctor
Carmen López	...	Alicia
Óscar Lara	...	Guillermo
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Aurora

Storyline

Laura, a former orphan, raises her adopted son Simón together with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. While at the orphanage Simón tells Laura that he has five invisible friends which she believes are a product of his active imagination. Laura decides to reopen the orphanage to cater for disabled children and throws a party. During the party Simón tries to persuade Laura to go and take a look at his friends cabin but she's too busy. Later on she sees a mysterious masked boy and realizes that Simón has also disappeared. Laura feels the presence of other people in the house and months later Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery.

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Plot Keywords:

orphanage | children | boy | adopted son | orphan | 

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Taglines:

Czech: Mrtvé deti si chtejí hrát (Dead children want to play)

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Official site [us]

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

11 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Orphanage

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£329,009 (UK) (21 March 2008)

Gross:

£1,480,257 (UK) (11 April 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Esta Vivo! Laboratorio de Nuevos Talentos, Grupo Rodar, Rodar y Rodar Cine y Televisión

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it received a 10 minute standing ovation.

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Goofs

After Laura is in the shed outside the house and she finds Benigna with a shovel hiding, and after Laura then tells Carlos to come down and check again with her, Carlos' torch shines onto the camera several times, and the reflection of the camera and the torch is in the background on the window.

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Crazy Credits

Pieces of wallpaper are peeled off to reveal each of the opening credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Viande d'origine française (2009)

User Reviews

A great suspense film

I'm a little bit tired of horror and suspense films. I had to get to the cinema because I could not say no to my girlfriend. Now I do not regret the wonderful evening I spent. This film achieved what others did not- I could not release my girlfriend's hand all over the time, and when the story finished I discovered there was nothing unexplained. A great suspense film I recommend. Belén Rueda, is a completely credible character and the place where the story has been shot helps make it realistic or, at least, the viewer gets into the environment created. The rest of actors are good and Geraldine Chaplin's scene is one of the most creepy I've ever seen