Oranges and Sunshine (2010)

Set in 1980s Nottingham, social worker Margaret Humphreys holds the British government accountable for child migration schemes and reunites the children involved -- now adults living mostly in Australia -- with their parents in Britain.

Director:

Jim Loach

Writers:

Rona Munro, Margaret Humphreys (book)

Stars:

Emily Watson, Aisling Loftus, Stuart Wolfenden

9 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emily Watson	...	Margaret Humphreys
Aisling Loftus	...	Susie
Stuart Wolfenden	...	Bill
Lorraine Ashbourne	...	Nicky
Federay Holmes	...	Charlotte
Richard Dillane	...	Merv
Molly Windsor	...	Rachel
Harvey Scrimshaw	...	Ben
Tammy Wakefield	...	Susan
Alastair G. Cumming	...	Australia House Official (as Alastair Cummings)
Kate Rutter	...	Vera
Hugo Weaving	...	Jack
Marg Downey	...	Miss Hutchison
Geoff Revell	...	Syd
Chrissie Page	...	Betty

Storyline

Set in 1980s Nottingham, social worker Margaret Humphreys holds the British government accountable for child migration schemes and reunites the children involved -- now adults living mostly in Australia -- with their parents in Britain.

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Plot Keywords:

child abuse | australia | united kingdom | deportation | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

Based on a true story

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong language

Details

Official Sites:

BBC Films [UK] Cohen Media Group

Country:

UK Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 April 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Oranges & Sunshine

Filming Locations:

South Australian Film Corporation, Hendon, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Australia, Little Gaddesden Productions, Fulcrum Media Finance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of at least three theatrical feature films shot in South Australia featuring a fruit word in the title. The movies are 'Peaches' (2004), 'Pacific Banana' (1981), and 'Oranges and Sunshine' (2010).

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Goofs

Although Margaret consults a range of national birth and marriage registers they all appear to have been written in the same distinctive handwriting.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Margaret Humphreys: So right now your baby needs to be safe, and you need a bit of support, don't you? I know you care, of course you do. But this will give you a chance to sort yourself out.

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.17 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Some Candy Talking
Written by Jim Reid (as J. Reid) and William Reid (as W. Reid)
JAMC Productions/Yellow Eye
Performed by The Jesus & Mary Chain
(P) 1986 Warner Music UK Ltd
Licensed courtesy of Mana Music Australia Pty Ltd
On behalf of Warner Music Australia Pty Ltd
Administered by Native Tongue Music Publishing

User Reviews

Britain's Shame

Should anyone ever question the value of the film industry then the innocently titled "Oranges and Sunshine" is a film that, on its own, could quite easily justify its existence.

Whilst the acting, production and direction are superb, the film's dark subject matter overshadows all, and its disturbing revelations require no dramatisation. As the psychological damage caused to a whole generation of "stolen" children becomes clear, it is difficult to comprehend the sheer immensity of the systematic betrayal of trust suffered by a staggering number of British families, and perpetrated by those in authority who should have known better.

"Oranges and Sunshine" covers a mere handful of tragic stories in various ways, all very effective. These stories expose a truly shameful episode in British history, and the way in which those affected adapted to their fate - with varying degrees of success. What is clear though is that for better or worse, this childhood experience has indelibly marked them for the rest of their lives.

Although the children who were torn away from their mothers may not have been marshalled roughly onto rail wagons, on a one way trip to oblivion, a very clear parallel can be drawn between the ghastly regime in Nazi Germany, and the ghastly regimes that allowed this despicable scheme to continue, and which do not appear, from the facts as depicted in this film, to have been brought to account.

The parallel is that when good men and women fall silent, and no-one challenges the systemic abuse of power by those in authority, then the arrogant, the incompetent, the weak-willed, the lazy and, indeed, the downright evil, triumph.

To me that is the enduring message of this brilliant yet incredibly sad film. It is a repeated lesson we seem incapable of learning, no matter how many times emotionally evocative films like this attempt to remind us.