When Andrea Dunbar tragically died at the age of 29 in 1990, she left behind ten-year-old Lorraine with bitter childhood memories. The Arbor catches up with Lorraine in the present day, also aged 29, ostracised from her mother’s family and in prison undergoing rehab.

Re-introduced to her mother’s plays and letters, the film follows Lorraine’s personal journey as she reflects on her own life and begins to understand the struggles her mother faced. Through interviews with other members of the Dunbar family, we see a contrasting view of Andrea, in particular from Lorraine’s younger sister Lisa, who idolises Andrea to this day.

Transcending genre and defying categorisation, The Arbor is a truly unique work, a celebration of Dunbar’s triumphs and a dissection her legacy, both from a wider social perspective and on a personal level as we witness the pain of her short and tragic life.

Introduction by Anna Coatman

This screening was introduced by Anna Coatman. Anna is a writer and editor based in West Yorkshire. She has written for publications including Another Gaze, London Review of Books, Sight & Sound, Times Literary Supplement, Tribune and The White Review.

The Arbour was part of Northern Soul, a special season curated by Clio Barnard for Bradford 2025 that celebrated Northern women in film.