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Orpokoti

Original title: El orfanato
  • 20072007
  • K-13K-13
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
152K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,711
1,863
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
El orfanato (2007)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer2:13
3 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorMystery

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

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
152K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,711
1,863
  • Director
    • J.A. Bayona
  • Writer
    • Sergio G. Sánchez(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Belén Rueda
    • Fernando Cayo
    • Roger Príncep
Top credits
  • Director
    • J.A. Bayona
  • Writer
    • Sergio G. Sánchez(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Belén Rueda
    • Fernando Cayo
    • Roger Príncep
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 359User reviews
    • 318Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 32 wins & 43 nominations

    Videos3

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 2:13
    Trailer [OV]
    U.S. trailer: The Orphanage
    Trailer 2:05
    U.S. trailer: The Orphanage
    The Orphanage
    Trailer 0:51
    The Orphanage

    Photos123

    Geraldine Chaplin in El orfanato (2007)
    Belén Rueda in El orfanato (2007)
    Óscar Casas in El orfanato (2007)
    El orfanato (2007)
    Belén Rueda in El orfanato (2007)
    Óscar Casas in El orfanato (2007)
    J.A. Bayona in El orfanato (2007)
    Belén Rueda at an event for El orfanato (2007)
    Belén Rueda at an event for El orfanato (2007)
    Belén Rueda, Guillermo del Toro, and J.A. Bayona at an event for El orfanato (2007)
    J.A. Bayona at an event for El orfanato (2007)
    Guillermo del Toro at an event for El orfanato (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Belén Rueda
    Belén Rueda
    • Lauraas Laura
    Fernando Cayo
    Fernando Cayo
    • Carlosas Carlos
    Roger Príncep
    Roger Príncep
    • Simónas Simón
    Mabel Rivera
    Mabel Rivera
    • Pilaras Pilar
    Montserrat Carulla
    Montserrat Carulla
    • Benignaas Benigna
    Andrés Gertrúdix
    Andrés Gertrúdix
    • Enriqueas Enrique
    Edgar Vivar
    Edgar Vivar
    • Bálabanas Bálaban
    Óscar Casas
    Óscar Casas
    • Tomásas Tomás
    • (as Oscar Casas)
    Mireia Renau
    • Laura Niñaas Laura Niña
    Georgina Avellaneda
    • Ritaas Rita
    Carla Gordillo
    • Martínas Martín
    Alejandro Camps
    • Víctoras Víctor
    Carmen López
    • Aliciaas Alicia
    Óscar Lara
    • Guillermoas Guillermo
    • (as Oscar Lara)
    Geraldine Chaplin
    Geraldine Chaplin
    • Auroraas Aurora
    Enric Arquimbau
    • Jefe Grupo Terapiaas Jefe Grupo Terapia
    Blanca Martínez
    • Mujer Grupo Terapiaas Mujer Grupo Terapia
    Carol Suárez
    • Benigna Jovenas Benigna Joven
    • Director
      • J.A. Bayona
    • Writer
      • Sergio G. Sánchez(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    orphanagedead childrenmissing childorphanfemale protagonist119 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Un cuento de amor. Una historia de terror. [A love tale. A horror story.]
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • K-13
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When writer Sergio G. Sánchez told the little girl who plays the blind orphan that she had pretty eyes, she replied, "Oh, do you like them? I picked them out myself!". What he didn't know: She was diagnosed at a very young age with a degenerative eye disease that was going to leave her blind. One of the last things her parents did while she could still see was let her see a big selection of glass eyes and choose the ones she wanted.
    • Goofs
      In the film, we see the lighthouse shining directly on the orphanage. In reality, coastal lighthouses are shielded so their light does not shine on land.
    • Quotes

      Aurora: Seeing is not believing. It's the other way around. Believe, and you will see.

    • Crazy credits
      Pieces of wallpaper are peeled off to reveal each of the opening credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Bucket List/The Orphanage/The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep/There Will Be Blood/Honeydripper/Persepolis (2008)

    User reviews359

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Pretty decent, though not particularly scary, supernatural mystery/drama
    This film is less like a traditional horror movie and more of a drama/mystery with strong supernatural elements. The setup is that Laura, who once lived at an orphanage, returns to the orphanage with her husband and son to start it up again as a place for special needs children. Of course, it all seems simple, but there are mysteries abound in this story and the revelations trickle in over the course of the tale.

    The film isn't particularly frightening, although it has a couple of jumpy moments. Rather than focusing on creating an atmosphere of fear, instead it works on drawing up sympathy for Laura's plight as events transpire against her and her family and the past comes back to haunt her. It's an interesting meditation on loss as well that had a wonderful potential to straddle the line between real-world and supernatural (but don't worry folks, it doesn't--it's firmly supernatural and you know it from early on). Nonetheless, that you could imagine this film working even if the supernatural elements were just in Laura's mind and that's a pretty good thing for the drama.

    The technical aspects of the film are all sound (although I noticed a couple of background gaffs, but I think you'd have to look for them), with clear direction, capable lensing and design. The actors all do a good job of rendering their characters (children fare believably enough) and Belen Rueda carries the film well as the central protagonist. The story itself doesn't reach any great depths, but unraveling the mystery with the film is enjoyable.

    It's nothing stunning, but in the world of horror films, it easily stands a shoulder above the regular flotsam that the genre tends to churn out. At that, it's no terrible film and could be recommended if you're looking for a relatively intelligent and well composed supernatural horror-type film. Just don't expect bloodbaths and constant shocks. 7/10.
    helpful•25
    14
    • refresh_daemon
    • Dec 30, 2007

    FAQ1

    • Is there going to be an English language remake like there have been with other foriegn horror films?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 28, 2007 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • Mexico
    • Official sites
      • Official site (Japan)
      • Official site (United States)
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Barnhemmet
    • Filming locations
      • Llanes, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
    • Production companies
      • MEDIA Programme of the European Union
      • Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA)
      • Generalitat de Catalunya - Institut Català de les Indústries Culturals (ICIC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €3,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,161,284
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $233,323
      • Dec 30, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $78,638,987
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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