Oranges and Sunshine is a 2010 biographical drama film directed by Jim Loach, in his directorial debut, with a screenplay by Rona Munro, based on the 1994 book Empty Cradles by Margaret Humphreys.[2] The film stars Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham.

Oranges and Sunshine
Theatrical film poster
Directed byJim Loach
Screenplay byRona Munro
Based onEmpty Cradles by
Margaret Humphreys
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDenson Baker
Edited byDany Cooper
Music byLisa Gerrard
Production
companies
Distributed byIcon Film Distribution
Release dates
  • 8 October 2010 (2010-10-08) (PIFF)
  • 1 April 2011 (2011-04-01) (United Kingdom)
  • 9 June 2011 (2011-06-09) (Australia)
Running time
105 minutes
Countries
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6,299,747[1]

Plot

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The film is based on the true story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who uncovered the scandal of "home children",[3] a scheme of forcibly relocating poor children from the United Kingdom to Australia and Canada.[4]

Deported children were promised "oranges and sunshine" but they instead got hard labour and life in institutions such as Keaney College in Bindoon, Western Australia. Many were given to the Congregation of Christian Brothers, where they suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of the brothers.[5][6]

Despite the numerous death threats from those who try to stop her, Margaret is successful in reuniting estranged families, who are situated in Australia and the UK, and brings worldwide attention to the cause.

Cast

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Production

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Filming

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Filming took place in Adelaide, South Australia, in Nottingham, and at Wirksworth in Derbyshire. Some interior scenes were filmed at the University of Leicester, Leicestershire, in Nottingham County Hall and in the porte-cochère of Nottingham railway station. Other locations that appear are a train on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway; Australia House in London and an overview of Nottingham Council House and the Old Market Square.

A casting session was held in Nottingham to find one boy and one girl for the roles of Margaret's children.[7]

Reception

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Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 71% based on reviews from 73 critics. The website's critics consensus reads, "Grounded in a heartwrenching fact-based story, steered by Loach's sensitive direction, and led by a powerful performance from Watson, Oranges and Sunshine sidesteps its pacing problems and occasionally clichéd screenplay."[8]

Accolades

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Award Category Subject Result
AACTA Award
(1st)
AFI Members' Choice Award Camilla Bray, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman Nominated
Best Film Nominated
Best Actor David Wenham Nominated
Best Actress Emily Watson Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Hugo Weaving Won
Best Editing Dany Cooper Nominated
Best Costume Design Cappi Ireland Nominated
AFCA Awards Best Australian Film Nominated
Best Actor David Wenham Nominated
Hugo Weaving Nominated
Best Actress Emily Watson Won
ASE Award Best Editing in a Feature Film Dany Cooper Won
ASSG Award Best Achievement in Mixing in a Feature Film Gethin Creagh Won
Sam Hayward Won
FCCA Awards Best Film Camilla Bray, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman Nominated
Best Actor David Wenham Nominated
Best Actress Emily Watson Won
Best Supporting Actor Hugo Weaving Won
Inside Film Awards Best Feature Film Camilla Bray, Iain Canning, Jim Loach, Emile Sherman Nominated
Best Script Rona Munro Nominated
Best Actor David Wenham Nominated
Best Actress Emily Watson Won
Best Editing Dany Cooper Nominated
Best Music Lisa Gerrard Nominated
Best Sound Gethin Creagh Nominated
James Currie Nominated
John Hughes Nominated
Andrew Plain Nominated
Best Production Design Melinda Doring Won
Rome Film Festival Golden Marc'Aurelio Award Jim Loach Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actress Emily Watson Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Hugo Weaving Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Oranges and Sunshine (2011) - International Box Office Results - Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com.
  2. ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 63. ISBN 978-1908215017.
  3. ^ Edemariam, Aida (20 February 2010). "People should sort this mess". The Guardian. London.
  4. ^ "Hollywood flick to tell story of Notts social worker". thisisNottingham. 30 September 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  5. ^ "College History". Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon. 2002. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  6. ^ Patrick Barkham. "Child migrants: 'I didn't belong to anybody'". The Guardian.
  7. ^ "Notts youngsters hope to land part in new film". thisisNottingham. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Oranges And Sunshine". Rotten Tomatoes. 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
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