The former orphan Laura raises her adopted son Simón with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. Simón is HIV positive and tells Laura that he has five invisible friends, and she believes they are fruit of his imagination. Laura decides to reopen an orphanage for handicapped children in the location and during the opening party, Simón calls her to show the little cabin of his friend Tomás. The busy Laura does not gives much attention to her son; then she sees a mysterious masked boy and Simón vanishes. Laura feels the presence of other persons in the house and months later, the desperate Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery.

El orfanato (2007)
  • Rating: (61,188 votes)
  • Taglines:Un cuento de amor. Una historia de terror (A tale of love. A story of horror) » No secret stays locked away forever »
  • Runtime:105 minutes
  • Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
  • Countries:Spain, Mexico
  • Actors:
    Laura
    Belén Rueda
    Carlos
    Fernando Cayo
    Simón
    Roger Príncep
    Pilar
    Mabel Rivera
    Benigna
    Montserrat Carulla
    Enrique
    Andrés Gertrúdix
    Prof. Leo Bálaban
    Edgar Vivar
    Tomás
    Óscar Casas
    Laura niña
    Mireia Renau
    Rita
    Georgina Avellaneda
  • Genres:Drama, Mystery, Thriller
  • Producers:
    Belén Atienza
    line producer  
    Álvaro Augustín
    producer  
    Sandra Hermida
    line producer  
    Elena Manrique
    line producer  
    Joaquín Padró
    producer  
    Mar Targarona
    producer  
    Guillermo del Toro
    executive producer  
  • Plot: Laura, a former orphan, raises her adopted son Simón together with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. While at the orphanage Simón tells Laura that he has five invisible friends which she believes are a product of his active imagination. Laura decides to reopen the orphanage to cater for disabled children and throws a party. During the party Simón tries to persuade Laura to go and take a look at his friends cabin but she's too busy. Later on she sees a mysterious masked boy and realizes that Simón has also disappeared. Laura feels the presence of other people in the house and months later Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
El orfanato
  • User's comment:absolutely incredible by jmsnjms

    I saw this at the Frightfest and its AMAZING, did the previous reviewer even see it? No real shocks!!, I've never seen a cinema jump like the audience at Frightfest for this film. I'm kind of tempted to name the shocks but I wont. Its such a stunningly made film, creepy, atmospheric, shocking, great story, beautifully directed, the main woman is incredible. I was never really sure if it was supernatural or psychological, but as it reveals...wow, its excellent. Its so well done I cant write more without giving stuff away, but go and see it. I was expecting a low rent " pan's Labyrinth " but I think it might be even better than PL, though very different. Best film i've seen in ages


  • Also known as: The Orphanage (International - imdb display title, English title), The Orphanage (Italy), The Orphanage (Norway - imdb display title), The Orphanage (UK), The Orphanage (USA), Barnhemmet (Finland - Swedish title), Barnhemmet (Sweden), O Orfanato (Brazil), O Orfanato (Portugal - imdb display title), Приют (Russia), Árvaház (Hungary - imdb display title), Børnehjemmet (Denmark), Das Waisenhaus (Germany), L'orfenat (Spain - TV title, Catalan title), L'orphelinat (France), Orbudekodu (Estonia - imdb display title), Orpokoti (Finland), Sierociniec (Poland), Sirotcinec (Czech Republic), Sirotinec (Slovakia), Sirotiste (Croatia), To orfanotrofeio (Greece - transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title), Yetimhane (Turkey - Turkish title),

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