Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Orphans Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 27, 2020

Peter Mullan's "Orphans" (1998) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include exclusive new documentary with the director and cast members; archival audio commentary by the director; three short films; deleted scenes; and more. The release also arrives with a 40-page illustrated booklet featuring writings on the film and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The ritual

Four siblings gather in Glasgow to bury their mother. On the night before the funeral they begin to wonder what the future might hold for them. Around the same time, a violent storm passes through the city and destroys the roof of the church where the funeral ceremony is to take place.

Thomas (Gary Lewis, Billy Elliot, Farewell), the oldest one, has agreed to spend the entire night in the church, right next to his mother’s coffin, because he is convinced that this is the right thing to do. Not everyone agrees with him, but he does not care.

Michael (Douglas Henshall, Angels & Insects, Lawless Heart), the most rational one, heads to a lousy pub where he quickly gets involved in a mass brawl. Before he can get out of it, one of the regulars, a well known hot-head, stabs him with his knife. He begins bleeding but refuses to go to the nearby hospital.

John (Stephen McCole, Crying with Laughter, A Lonely Place To Die), who has followed Michael to the pub, decides that the hot-head must be taught a lesson. Assisted by an equally crazy and seriously disillusioned delivery guy (Frank Gallagher), he starts looking for him. But before he could get to the hot-head, he finds himself assisting the delivery guy in his plan to extort a wealthy customer who likes to masturbate in his bathroom.

Barely able to speak and confined to a motorized wheelchair, Sheila (Rosemarie Stevenson) decides to spend the night on the streets of Glasgow, not next to her religious brother Thomas. But when her wheelchair breaks down in a dark alley, she suddenly realizes that her trip may not have been a good idea.

Scottish director Peter Mullan’s Orphans is a film with a very unique pulse. It tiptoes between black comedy and gritty drama, but it does not favor one of them. It is what it is because apparently this is how unpredictable and polarizing life in Glasgow was in the late ‘90s.

The film’s DNA is similar to that of Ken Loach’s Raining Stones but it actually has more in common with Lynne Ramsay’s Ratcatcher and Mike Leigh’s Naked. The material is very flexible, borderline surreal, which is why the film is as convincing as a comedy as it is as a drama.

Mullan has admitted that he is politically driven, but Orphans does not show it. Then, again, the entire film is about the erosion of traditional beliefs and the loss of unity in post-Thatcher Scotland. Everything the orphans go through during the night before the funeral of their mother seems driven by desperation and blind anger that has infected most ordinary Scots.

Lewis, Henshall, McCole, and Stevenson showcase a wide range of emotions that truly give the film its unique identity. With less than a perfect cast the sudden transitions from comedy to drama, and vice versa, would have been a complete disaster, and instead they are pitch-perfect.

Shot on location in Glasgow, the film is quite dark and gloomy. It is beautiful to look at but not because it is elegant; rather because it is bold, unconventional and irresistibly confident. The film also boasts a sublime melancholic score by multiple award-winning Scottish composer Craig Armstrong (Moulin Rouge!, Ray).

*In 1998, Orphans won four awards at the Venice Film Festival, including Isvema Award for best debut feature film and Prix Pierrot (Peter Mullan).

Orphans Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Orphans arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

This film made its high-definition debut in 2011 via British label Park Circus. (You can see our review of the first release here). This release is sourced from the same remaster that was used to produce the previous release.

The remaster is decent but now looks mostly dated. What I like about it is that it handles well-lit footage rather nicely, and close-ups in particular tend to look quite strong. However, the film has a lot of darker/nighttime footage and the blacks often appear overwhelming. Now, the stylization of the visuals definitely contributes to the effect, but there is also light crushing, which from time to time is exacerbated by mild denoising. As a result, some fine nuances that are lost, plus in certain areas depth does not look optimal. Again, the stylization -- which is basically a whole lot of natural light management -- hides most of these shortcomings rather well, which is why I don't think that the integrity of the film has been compromised, but a modern 2K/4K master should easily introduce various good improvements. Regaardless, I still believe that this is a fine presentation of the film that makes it easy to enjoy at home. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Orphans Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The inclusion of the English subtitles is a game-changer. I thought that the lossless tracks on the previous release were very solid, but there were areas in the film where the Scottish accents were so thick that I could not always understand the full exchanges between the different characters. The group footage was especially problematic because there were all sorts of different organic sounds and noises. So, kudos to Indicator/Powerhouse Films for providing the subtitles because they will be appreciated by a lot of viewers. There are no encoding issues to report.

Orphans Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailer - the original UK theatrical trailer for Orphans. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Orphans Reunited (2019) - this program was produced for the 20th anniversary of the theatrical premiere of Orphans. In it director Peter Mullan and many of the stars of the film recall their contribution to it, and discuss its unique naturalism, conflicts, and the different ways in which it impacted their careers and lives. In English, with optional English subtitles. (60 min, 1080p).

• The Making of Orphans - in this archival program, director Peter Mullan discusses in great detail the conception of Orphans, the film's constantly evolving management of the balance between comedy and drama, and the nature of some of the key conflicts. Gary Lewis, Douglas Henshall, and Stephen McCole also address their characters. Raw footage from the shooting of the film is included as well. In English, not subtitled. (35 min, 1080p).

• Deleted Scenes - a collection of deleted scenes, with an optional commentary by the director. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080p).

• Short Films - three short films directed by Peter Mullan.
  
  -- Close (1993). A man living in a Glasgow close goes berserk after one of his neighbors insults his daughter. In English, with optional English subtitles. B&W. (17 min, 1080p).
  
  -- Fridge (1995). Somewhere in the Glaswegian slums a boy gets trapped inside an abandoned old fridge. A couple of drunks will try to get him out. In English, with optional English subtitles. B&W. (21 min, 1080p).
  
  -- Good Day for the Bad Guys (1995). A group of actors begin confronting each other. In English, with optional English subtitles. Color. (24 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director Peter Mullan and initially appeared on this R2 DVD release of Oprhans, which MGM produced in 2000.

• Audion Tapes - a collection of auditions, which can be viewed with an optional audio commentary by director Peter Mullan. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 720p).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for the film. (1080p).

• Booklet - a 40-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Pattison, an archival article by Peter Mullan, Mullan's open letter to FilmFour, critical responses, and film credits.

Orphans Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Peter Mullan's directorial debut, Orphans, is a genuine masterpiece, and for my money it is the undisputed jewel of Indicator/Powerhouse Films' catalog. It should have been the worldwide phenomenon that Trainspotting became, but sadly a lot of people just could not get how brilliant it is. And where is the North American release of Orphans? The Criterion Collection would be the perfect home for the film -- and the other two films that Mullan directed as well -- but for now folks on this side of the Atlantic will have to consider imports such as this one. The technical presentation of the film could be better, but the large selection of bonus features and especially the inclusion of the optional subtitles make it exceptionally easy to recommend this release. Take my words for granted, folks -- if you don't have Orphans there is a massive hole in your library. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.