Oranges and Sunshine
The true story of Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson, Cemetery Junction), a social worker from Nottingham who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the organised, forced deportation of more than 100,000 poor and orphaned children from the United Kingdom to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. The scheme began in the 1800s and ended in the late 1960s. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a formal apology to affected families in 2010.
Almost single-handedly and against the odds, Humphreys reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and brought worldwide attention to this miscarriage of justice.
Also starring Hugo Weaving (The Matrix), this is the feature debut from director Jim 'son of Ken' Loach.
- Director:
- Jim Loach (feature debut)
- Writer:
- Rona Munro
- Cast:
- Hugo WeavingEmily WatsonDavid WenhamTara MoriceLorraine AshbourneClayton Watson
Reviews & comments
More an Orchard than a Lemon
An emotional moving commentary on the hidden truth about the export of 130,000 yes 130,000 children from Mother England to Down Under Australia and the exposure of institutionalized standards and behaviors that only now being exposed through adults bearing scares. The film is that much more absorbing by connecting the tragedy to the true story...
Adequate......could have been so much more
A worthy film. Does that make it a great one? Not in my opinion. The acting is adequate, the script necessarily heavy in detail to fill the audience in, but the film never really takes off. You feel the determination Margaret has, and the support and frustration of her family at this, but it all feels a little flat and movie by numbers. The most moving...
Ken can be proud !
Jim Loach's first feature film is a very promising debut. And Jim is indeed his father's son, taking on a most outrageous social injustice of the 20th century, and the woman who uncovered it, as his subject matter. The film never falls into gratuitous voyeurism even in the most upsetting and rawest part of the story. And not only it is well directed, it is...
Variety
pressIn the best tradition of British social realism, Denson Baker's largely handheld camera is steady and unobtrusive; Lisa Gerrard's lovely score is discreetly applied. All other technical aspects are top-notch.
Little White Lies
pressThere’s a lot to be said for such heart-wrenching drama that doesn’t fall into the easy trap of mawkishness or manipulation – Loach has cast actors capable of dealing with raw scenes in a spare yet deeply moving way.
Empire Magazine
pressMoving if low-key, Jim Loach's debut feature is proof that compassionate, socially conscious filmmaking runs in the family.
Variety
pressIn the best tradition of British social realism, Denson Baker's largely handheld camera is steady and unobtrusive; Lisa Gerrard's lovely score is discreetly applied. All other technical aspects are top-notch.
Little White Lies
pressThere’s a lot to be said for such heart-wrenching drama that doesn’t fall into the easy trap of mawkishness or manipulation – Loach has cast actors capable of dealing with raw scenes in a spare yet deeply moving way.
Empire Magazine
pressMoving if low-key, Jim Loach's debut feature is proof that compassionate, socially conscious filmmaking runs in the family.
More an Orchard than a Lemon
An emotional moving commentary on the hidden truth about the export of 130,000 yes 130,000 children from Mother England to Down Under Australia and the exposure of institutionalized standards and behaviors that only now being exposed through adults bearing scares. The film is that much more absorbing by connecting the tragedy to the true story...
Adequate......could have been so much more
A worthy film. Does that make it a great one? Not in my opinion. The acting is adequate, the script necessarily heavy in detail to fill the audience in, but the film never really takes off. You feel the determination Margaret has, and the support and frustration of her family at this, but it all feels a little flat and movie by numbers. The most moving...
Ken can be proud !
Jim Loach's first feature film is a very promising debut. And Jim is indeed his father's son, taking on a most outrageous social injustice of the 20th century, and the woman who uncovered it, as his subject matter. The film never falls into gratuitous voyeurism even in the most upsetting and rawest part of the story. And not only it is well directed, it...
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