Orphans - DVD

To me, this is one of those films, whose scenes linger, almost haunt long after the vague and slightly off-putting title is long forgotten.

Mixing raw emotional drama, worthy of any work by Lars von Trier and the Catholic-induced fantasies that Neil Jordan fused so well into the grime and poverty of modern society this is one hell of a bumpy, but rewarding cinematic ride. In Jordan's case, Ireland, in this, Scottish director Peter Mullan is mid 90's Glasgow.

There's a gutter encrusted language that refuses to shock as it seems so much a part of the angst and misunderstanding of a modern society losing its religion but that same religion has never been more needed. In the same way of Mullan's 'My Name Is Joe', (in which he takes lead part) life is sheer hell at times and grasping onto what you know and rely on is paramount. Whether that faith be in alcohol, drugs, the church or family. Or all four.

So, the mother of the family dies and everybody is highly overwrought. Scotland's finest actors, often only seen in more lame films (Douglas Henshall, for instance is outstanding in this) or the current gritty Scots TV D.I 'Taggart', who ends up not in quite as much control as he's used to. Stalwart actor Gary Lewis (Full Monty, Brassed Off) is the lay priest and brother who tries to keep his family united as well as his church and when a storm hits...

On this, my third viewing, those scenes are worthy of anything - and more - that Hollywood can do. Truly making me goose-bumped and, frankly, perspiring as the score, the focused direction plus performances as good as anything you'll see ably pumps up the melodrama. A revenge plot for a stabbing that leaves Henshall running for cover, injured, blood- soaked and delirious leads him screaming for Sanctuary at his estranged brother's church. Will the Will of God allow personal bitterness to be overcome?

Unusually, another lead - and thankfully, without mawkishness, is a sister to the brothers and who is severely disabled with cerebral palsy and in an electrically powered chair. The sort of plucky girl who thanks people for calling her a 'spastic'. Totally un-PC, but she's grateful for their full frontal honesty. Don't expect a shrinking violet...

'Orphans' might well not be as topical as Mullan's most well known film 'The Magdalene Sisters' and hasn't got the fantastic fantasy and hip- soundtrack of Boyle's Trainspotting. But, for my money, in its own ways it sits up there with the two as some of the very finest Scottish set, or originated, films, ever.

Park Circus is a film distribution company based in Glasgow Scotland. The company specializes in the distribution of classic and back catalogue films. At the end of October they released a new digital transfer of Peter Mullan's directorial debut, his first full length feature film Orphans (1998) a movie that had not been available for some time.

The winner of four awards at the Venice Film Festival in 1998 Orphans tell the story of personal loss and grief involving four siblings, three brothers, Thomas Flynn the eldest, Michael and John, and their wheelchair bound sister Sheila who has cerebral palsy who gather together on the eve of their mothers funeral. All four go on to face individual torments before the actual burial takes place the following day. This unflinching and at times touching and slightly surreal film stars some familiar Scottish actors including Douglas Henshall as Michael, Gary Lewis as Thomas, Stephen McCole plays John with Rosemarie Stevenson as their sister.

When it was originally made there were problems getting it distributed because Film 4 (whom it was discovered at a later date had burnt all the unused film footage without consulting any one) weren't happy about releasing it, the success at the Venice helped, particularly in Europe, although it run in Glasgow for a period of fourteen weeks in 1999. Made with a budget of 1.9 million, the film was shot entirely on location in Glasgow, sadly depicting the city as an extremely violent place. The movie stands the test of time, Mullan put no real timeline references into the film; the only thing that dates it is the lack of mobile phones. The following quote from Peter Mullan sums up the film in my opinion. "It's dark. It's about grief. It's weird, I'd always wanted it to be, and I still think it is, a democratic comedy. The audience can decide what bits to laugh at and what bits they're not going to laugh at."

Who can forget the night at the Robert Burns Cinema in Dumfries when Peter joined us for a question and answer session for his third feature film as director Neds (2011). I said in that ramble that his best-known film was probably The Magdalene Sisters (2002) but Orphans, a dark comedy drama, is a good early indicator of the Scotsman's directorial skills.

Included on the DVD re-issue are three early short films by Mullan, Close (1993), Good Day for The Bad Guys (1995) and Fridge (1995). Made for £500 Close tells the tale of Vincent (Mullan) who lives in a Glasgow tenement block, his wife has just given birth and she will be bringing the baby back to their home shortly. After a derogatory remark about his new born daughter by a drunken neighbour Vincent decides its about time he set about "cleaning" up the his close! An unpretentious enjoyable black comedy.

The second short Good Day for Bad Guys is about a group of four unbalanced entertainers involved in a traditional, but down at heel, Scottish pantomime and how they interact with one another. Starring, along with its director, are Gary Lewis and the Scottish actress Laura Fraser. This short borders the horror genre.

By far the best of the three shorts is Fridge. Rudy (Gary Lewis) and Alice (Vicki Masson) who have problems with alcohol, live rough in the grounds of a run down Glaswegian tenement block. Following a nasty incident involving another rough sleeper a young boy is locked in an abandoned chest freezer, the fridge of the title. Struggling with their own demons Rudy and Alice set out to free the boy before his air runs out. A very bleak film about this county's forgotten under class that could easily be set in 2011 Britain. This is one of the best short films I have ever had the privilege of viewing, one that I will not forget. The DVD is essential viewing for anyone interested in the Scottish actor and director's early works.

Realy dark and well acted Scottish film.Worth a watch.You may need an interpreter if you are from outside the Kingdom of Scotland,but it will be worth it.