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Oranges and Sunshine

Play trailer Poster for Oranges and Sunshine R 2011 1h 45m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 72 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Until the early 1970s, thousands of British children -- many orphans, others taken by social workers from broken homes -- were packed onto ships bound for Australia. Promised oranges and sunshine, many instead endured abuse in workhouses as virtual slaves. In 1987, Nottingham, England, social worker Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson) learns the horrific extent of this program as she attempts to help two of its survivors, the timid Jack (Hugo Weaving) and the violent Len (David Wenham).

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Oranges and Sunshine

Oranges and Sunshine

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/30/2018
It takes one of the most obscene scandals in 20th-century British politics and all but kills it off with its self-righteous stance, plodding script, mournful violins and clunky construction. Go to Full Review Mark Feeney Boston Globe 11/03/2011
1.5/4
The sincerity of feeling is unmistakable. So's the flat-footedness of the writing. Go to Full Review Leba Hertz San Francisco Chronicle 10/27/2011
3/4
Emily Watson, who always brings a special grace to the screen, gives a multilayered performance to the role of Margaret Humphreys, who not only puts her own family dynamic at risk but finds herself physically threatened. Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella Edge Media Network 04/21/2022
A-
The film is heartbreaking, enraging, and ultimately uplifting, thanks to Loach's economic direction and Rita Munro's focused screenplay. The magnitude of the insanity is sometimes hard to grasp. Go to Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl 04/16/2022
Oranges & Sunshine is a well-made film, but its importance surpasses its ability to entertain. Go to Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 06/03/2020
3.5/5
A work of controlled, retrospective outrage, telling the bizarre true story of how tens of thousands of young British lives were irrevocably ruined. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lee L 01/28/2025 Such a sad, touching movie. Just proves one person can make a change. My heart goes out to all the families left heartbroken by yet another situation that has been buried. See more Raven M 08/26/2023 This movie is heartbreaking for several reasons. On the same level as "The Sound of Freedom", the British government saw these children as a deficit. Born to either unwed mothers or very poor women, their solution was to quietly send these children to Australia by lying to them. Most were taken into to state care via social service due to unfit homes. The mothers were lied to and told their children had been adopted into loving homes with better living conditions while the children were told their mothers had died. Many went into orphanages and doled out to less-than-ideal living situations where they were used as slave labor, or abused physically, mentally, emotionally and sometimes sexually by the people who were supposed to be caring for them. One day, it comes to the attention of a social worker who is determined to uncover the truth and possibly re-unite adult children who just want to know who they are. The scandal exposed by her search for the truth causes both governments to take responsibility for this violation of human rights and further shines a light on how far back and how deeply human trafficing goes. See more Daniel 10/28/2022 Decent kDrama, but does paint Korean's as pretty bad people. So many annoying characters, really frustrating actors, but the wife enjoys it! See more 08/04/2018 Important story tied to a fairly engrossing screenplay. See more 08/02/2018 História bem triste sobre crianças enviadas para outro país contra sua vontade e como uma mulher ajudou-as a reencontrar suas origens. O filme tem alguns momentos bem clichês e outros um tanto inesperados que causaram uma certa surpresa positiva. See more 02/19/2017 When humans don't act human. See more Read all reviews
Oranges and Sunshine

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Cast & Crew

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Jim Loach

Director

Emily Watson

Margaret Humphreys

David Wenham

Len

Hugo Weaving

Jack

Richard Dillane

Merv

Lorraine Ashbourne

Nicky

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Oranges and Sunshine

Oranges and Sunshine (2010) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Until the early 1970s, thousands of British children -- many orphans, others taken by social workers from broken homes -- were packed onto ships bound for Australia. Promised oranges and sunshine, many instead endured abuse in workhouses as virtual slaves. In 1987, Nottingham, England, social worker Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson) learns the horrific extent of this program as she attempts to help two of its survivors, the timid Jack (Hugo Weaving) and the violent Len (David Wenham).
Director
Jim Loach
Producer
Camilla Bray, Iain Canning
Screenwriter
Rona Munro
Distributor
Screen Media Films
Production Co
Screen Australia
Rating
R (Some Strong Language)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 21, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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