Oranges and Sunshine

Oranges and Sunshine
Oranges and Sunshine
	Theatrical film poster
Directed by	Jim Loach
Screenplay by	Rona Munro
Based on	Empty Cradles by; Margaret Humphreys
Produced by	Camilla Bray; Iain Canning; Emile Sherman;
Starring	Emily Watson;
Cinematography	Denson Baker
Edited by	Dany Cooper
Music by	Lisa Gerrard
Production; companies	See-Saw Films; Sixteen Films;
Distributed by	Icon Film Distribution
Release dates	8 October 2010 (PIFF); 1 April 2011 (United Kingdom); 9 June 2011 (Australia);
Running time	105 minutes
Countries	Australia; United Kingdom;
Language	English
Box office	$6,299,747

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.

Plot

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

Emily Watson as Margaret Humphreys
Hugo Weaving as Jack
David Wenham as Len
Richard Dillane as Merv Humphreys
Tara Morice as Pauline
Stuart Wolfenden as Bill
Kate Rutter as Vera
Lorraine Ashbourne as Nicky
Federay Holmes as Charlotte
Helen Grayson as Bureaucrat
Ruth Rickman as Orphan
Harvey Scrimshaw as Ben
Molly Windsor as Rachel
Neil Pigot as James
Tammy Wakefield as Susan
Adam Morgan as the Intruder
Neil May as the Commuter
Adam Tedder as the Doctor
Greg Stone as Bob
Aisling Loftus as Susie
Geoff Morrell as Walter
Chandran Owen as Pointing man in the street

Production

Filming

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

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

Award	Category	Subject	Result
AACTA Award (1st)	AFI Members' Choice Award	Camilla Bray, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman	Nominated
	Best Film	Camilla Bray, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman	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
	Best Actor	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
ASSG Award	Best Achievement in Mixing in a Feature Film	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
Satellite Award	Best Supporting Actor	Hugo Weaving	Nominated

References

^ "Oranges and Sunshine (2011) - International Box Office Results - Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com.
^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 63. ISBN 978-1908215017.
^ Edemariam, Aida (20 February 2010). "People should sort this mess". The Guardian. London.
^ "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.
^ "College History". Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon. 2002. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
^ Patrick Barkham. "Child migrants: 'I didn't belong to anybody'". The Guardian.
^ "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.
^ "Oranges And Sunshine". Rotten Tomatoes. 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2023.

External links

Oranges and Sunshine at IMDb
Oranges and Sunshine at Rotten Tomatoes
Sixteen Films
orangesandsunshine.com.au
Child Migrants Trust Official website for reuniting children

[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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]