TIFF 2025 Review: Orphan

Attempting to survive the aftermath of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, a 12-year-old boy yearns to be reunited with his father only to discover that the truth might be terrifying.

Adopting an apartment building boiler as a surrogate father figure, Andor does daily recounts of his life and wishes; he is not entirely alone, as there is his single-parent mother, a childhood friend, and a family acquaintance who is sympathetic towards him.  The world gets thrown into turmoil when a mysterious figure makes regular visits on his motorbike to see Andor’s mother and is as brutal to deal with as the Soviet regime is on the Hungarian citizens.

The real star is the performance of the cast as it feels as if their lives are unfolding before our eyes.  Hard to believe that Bojtorján Barabas is a newcomer as he inhabits the role of Andor, Grégory Gadebois is menacing as Berend Mihály, the infatuated sociopath, and there is a weariness conveyed by Andrea Waskovics as Klára, the matriarch determined to look after her son even if it means making questionable decisions.   Also praiseworthy are the cinematography, which has a golden nostalgic aesthetic and the period authentic production design, as it would have been a massive undertaking logistically and artistically.

What is less clear is the point of the narrative, though the closing shot may suggest that there is an allegorical element which needs to be taken into account.  Granted, there are compassionate characters to be found, but the world itself is dominated by those who have no limit to the brutality they are prepared to inflict upon others.  The storyline of the vaudevillian who is a family friend, is underserved, while the time spent between Andor and his childhood partner-in-crime is enjoyable to watch.   The nihilistic perspective makes everything heartbreaking and soul-crushing, but perhaps that is life.

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 4-14, 2025, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.