Watch Oranges and Sunshine

Oranges and Sunshine is a powerful and emotional movie, based on a true story, that deals with some of the darker aspects of recent Australian history. The film was released in 2010 and was directed by Jim Loach. It stars Emily Watson in the lead role, with Aisling Loftus and Stuart Wolfenden in supporting roles. The movie is set in Nottingham, England in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Emily Watson plays Margaret Humphreys, a social worker who uncovers a massive scandal involving the forced deportation of thousands of children from the UK to Australia. These children, who were often taken from their parents under false pretenses, were told they were going on an adventure to the land of sunshine and orange groves. In reality, they were being sent to a harsh and abusive system of juvenile detention and forced labor in Australia.

Margaret Humphreys is contacted by a woman named Charlotte (Aisling Loftus) who is looking for her birth mother. This sets off a chain of events that leads Humphreys to uncover the truth about the child deportations. She travels to Australia to visit the children who were sent there and learn their stories. She also works tirelessly to reunite families who were torn apart years ago.

The film does not shy away from the horror of the abuse that the children in the juvenile detention system faced. Many were physically and sexually abused, and some were used as guinea pigs for medical experiments. The scenes in the juvenile detention centers are difficult to watch and will evoke strong emotions in viewers.

Despite the bleak subject matter, Oranges and Sunshine is ultimately a story of hope and redemption. Margaret Humphreys works tirelessly to expose the truth about the deportations and to reunite families who were separated. She is passionate and determined, even in the face of opposition and intimidation. Her work eventually leads to a national apology from the Australian government and a reunion for Charlotte and her birth mother.

Emily Watson gives a powerful performance as Humphreys, portraying her as a woman driven by a deep sense of justice and compassion. Aisling Loftus is also impressive as Charlotte, a young woman adrift in life who finds purpose in searching for her birth mother. Stuart Wolfenden gives a strong and nuanced performance as the man who first contacts Humphreys about the child deportations.

In addition to the outstanding performances, the film is also visually stunning. The scenes in Australia are beautifully shot, capturing the vast landscapes and the stark beauty of the outback. The cinematography is sensitive to the subject matter, never glamorizing the harsh realities faced by the children who were sent there.

Overall, Oranges and Sunshine is a moving and deeply affecting film that deals with important issues of social justice and historical reckoning. It poses difficult questions about the moral responsibility we have to correct wrongs of the past and offers a message of hope for reconciliation and healing. It is a film that will leave a lasting impact on viewers long after the credits have rolled.

Oranges and Sunshine is a 2011 drama. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 60.