Oranges and Sunshine

In the 1950’s and ‘60’s, 130,000 unescorted children entrusted to the British government were deported to Australia and put in work homes. Told that they were orphans and promised with oranges and sunshine these children grew up in various institutions believing that they were alone in the world and without family. When one such child grew to adulthood she used her savings to fly to Nottingham, England in search of her identity and origin. Shipped out at age four, Nottingham is all she can remember of her former life.

Out of money and flying home the next day she crashes a support group meeting and tells her story to a social worker named Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson). Margaret finds her story incredulous and the woman is offended that Margaret disbelieves her. She shoves her research into Margaret’s hand and returns home to Australia.Unable to sleep that night Margaret begins to read the file and subsequently does some digging. Not only is the woman’s story true, her mother was still alive. Margaret is shocked and appalled. With the blessing of her husband she flies to Australia and discovers many others with similar stories. Margaret has now become a crusader.

Oranges and Sunshine tells the story of Margaret Humphreys and her tireless effort to give these people closure. Dividing her time between England and Australia, she collected stories, interviewed people and shined unwanted media attention on the institutions involved. Hugo Weaving gives a haunting performance as Jack, a man who could never get past his sense of abandonment. And David Lenham portrays Len, an abrasive, arrogant, unapologetic survivor with a chip on his shoulder. They become Margaret’s allies and help her to help others.

Oranges and Sunshine is a melancholy tale that will touch your emotional core. It is even sadder because it is true.  Hopefully this film will continue to bring attention to the plight of the “home children” and the work of The Child Migrant’s Trust. Britain has made a formal apology to these children but there is still a lot of work to do. This is a timely, moving story that needed to be told, and a beautiful film.

Rating: First Run A story that needed told