Orphan (2017)

Unraveling like an intricately woven tapestry, "Orphan" (2017) gracefully traverses four key chapters in the life of Renée, a woman of resilience, shaped by her past and striving for a future unburdened by it. This cinematic journey explores her fractured existence, from the naive innocence of her childhood to the tempestuous trials of her adulthood, each stage revealing another piece of the enigmatic puzzle that is her life. In her earliest years, we meet Kiki, a provincial child whose innocent games of hide-and-seek jarringly segue into catastrophe, sowing the seeds of a tumultuous future. As she steps into adolescence, she transforms into Karine, a precocious and audacious 13-year-old. Desperate for the affection she lacks at home, she flits from one superficial relationship to another, a moth drawn to the flame of fleeting attention, ever eluding her brutal father's grasp. The narrative then leaps ahead to Renée's reckless twenties, where she's introduced to the adrenaline-charged world of horse racing by Lev, a seasoned gambler. As Sandra, she becomes a mule, carrying bet money to cashiers, her life teetering on the thrilling, dangerous edge of this underworld. In the final act, we encounter Renée, an emotionally scarred yet compassionate school teacher, dedicated to the education of underprivileged youth in the heart of Paris. As she seeks to build a stable life with her boyfriend, her past comes charging back in the form of Tara, a self-destructive gambler with whom she shares a seven-year-old debt. "Orphan" is a riveting exploration of a woman's journey, her disastrous past casting long shadows over her present. As each chapter of Renée's life unfolds, we delve deeper into her multifaceted soul, revealing a heroine not defined by her circumstances, but by her indomitable will to achieve freedom. Through this exploration of interconnected lives, we bear witness to a woman's relentless pursuit of redemption and the courage to confront the specters of her past.

Orphan is a drama movie featuring Adèle Exarchopoulos and directed by Arnaud des Pallières.

Orphan is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and Tubi TV and it's also available on MUBI and MUBI Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Orphan on Amazon Video.