5 June 2008

Taking a leaf from the book of Mexican director turned Hollywood maestro Guillermo del Toro (who also produced this film), Spanish filmmaker Juan Antonio Bayona has broken through to the international market with an intelligent and atmospheric horror movie with sociopolitical overtones. The lead character of The Orphanage (El Orphanato) is Laura, who spent the happiest years of her childhood growing up in an orphanage by the seaside, cared for by the staff and fellow orphans whom she loved as brothers and sisters. Now, thirty years later, she returns with her husband Carlos and Simon, their 7-year-old son, with a dream of restoring and reopening the long-abandoned orphanage as a home for disabled children. As the opening day draws near, tension builds within the family. Laura slowly becomes convinced that something long-hidden and terrible is lurking in the old house, something waiting to emerge and inflict appalling damage on her family.

A major winner at the Barcelona and Goya film awards and a hit with critics and audiences worldwide, The Orphanage is coming to UK DVD and blu-ray disc on 21st July 2008 from Optimum at the RRP of £19.99 for the DVD and £24.99 for the blu-ray disc. Extra features will include:

• Making-of Featurette (12 mins);
• Deleted scenes;
• Interview with Bayona and Del Toro in Budapest;
• UK Exclusive Q&A with Bayona at Curzon Mayfair;
• Casting & Rehearsals;
• Designs & Sounds & Lighting & Storyboards;
• more...