Independent Research (The Orphan)

Independent Research

Title Name: Orphan

Director of the Film: Jaume Collet- Serra

Setting:

The film was set in Canada, in the cities of Burlington, Toronto, Port Hope and Montreal.

Plot:

The Orphan is a 2009 psychological thriller that was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard. The orphan is about a husband and a wife that are having problems within their marriage as they have lost their third child. The loss of their third has a big effect on Kate, who is also recovering from problems with alcohol. Due to their loss, they decide to adopt a nine year old Russian girl named Esther from the local orphanage. Throughout the film, there always seems to be accidents that happen whilst Esther is around, however she claims that she is innocent. Later on in the film, because the wife has suspicions on the young girl, she visits the orphanage and speaks to the owner, who warns her, every time Esther is around, bad things are always happening. Is the young girl as innocent as she claims to be?

Characters:

Ø  Vera Farmiga as Kate Coleman

Ø  Peter Sarsgaard as John Coleman

Ø  Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther Coleman/Leena Klammer

Ø  Aryana Engineer as Maxine "Max" Coleman

Ø  CCH Pounder as Sister Abigail

Ø  Jimmy Bennett as Daniel Coleman

Ø  Margo Martindale as Dr. Browning

Ø  Karel Roden as Dr. Varava

Props:

Knife
The knife is a common weapon that is shown throughout the film, the knife is seem in scenes such as the daddy's girl scene, as you can see Esther walking through the room holding the knife. This shows that there is a possibility that something could happen. The knife is also used towards the end of the film at the location of the ice pond. The knife is seen again when Esther approaches her mum from behind and begins to attack her. A Stanley knife is also used when Esther holds the weapon against her brothers throat, telling him to keep quite.The knife is a common weapon that is used during horror films because when it relates to the strange background music, it shows fear within the audience.

Hammer
The hammer is also another weapon that is used within the film Orphan. The weapon is used at the scene were the little girl Esther pushes her little sister in front of the moving car. Although the women moved the car out of the way in time, she approaches the little girl and is hit by Esther in the back of the head, with the hammer. After this, Esther repeatedly hits the women which puts the audience in a shocked mood.

Gun
The gun is used several times within the film, the first time we notice the gun is when Esther has hold of it (in her little sisters face). The gun is not used at this time however it does show that Esther is capable of anything and that she is a very dangerous girl.

Camera Work:

There are a range of camera shots/angles that are used throughout the film which include close ups, long shots, mid shots etc. At the beginning of the film there is scene were the women is having a nightmare about giving birth to her child, however everything is going wrong during her time in labour. There are close ups of the women's face to show that she is in agony. Long shots are also used within the first part of the film, were the two parents arrive at the orphanage. As they arrive at the orphanage there is a long shot of the place, looking up hill (low angle). Point of view (POV) shots are often used within the film, they are often used to show that Esther is following behind her victims. These types of shots work very effectively within the film as it shows the audience something is going to happen very soon.