Orphans (1987 film)


Orphans is a 1987 American drama film directed by Alan J. Pakula. Written by Lyle Kessler, based on his 1983 play of the same name, the film follows two orphaned brothers as they navigate life on their own.

Plot

Treat and Phillip are two brothers living alone in a rundown North Philadelphia row house. Treat, the elder, is a violent pickpocket who spends the day robbing people in order to provide for himself and Phillip. Meanwhile, at home, Phillip tries to educate himself via words in magazines and watching TV.
Treat kidnaps a mysterious man from a bar, with a briefcase full of stocks and bonds. Known as Harold, he turns the tables on his abductor and begins to assimilate himself into the brothers' lives, turning Treat into a gentleman and giving Phillip the encouragement he needs.
But there are people who have picked up on Harold's disappearance. As Harold helps Phillip overcome his agoraphobia, tensions begin to run high in the household.
One night, after an argument between the brothers, Harold returns and is revealed to have been fatally wounded. He dies on the couch, with Phillip by his side. Treat breaks down in tears, and Phillip comforts him.

Cast

of the New York Times enjoyed the film:
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two and a half stars out of four and had this to say: