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It’s Not all Sunshine
A new film which reveals dark days in the history of Britain and Australia has just wrapped production
A new feature film, Oranges and Sunshine, which recounts the true story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who uncovered an international scandal, has just completed filming in the UK and Australia.
Directed by British TV veteran, Jim Loach, the film tells the extraordinary story of the organised deportation of children from the United Kingdom to Australia and stars Emily Watson (pictured), David Wenham and Hugo Weaving.
The wrap-up of the film's production coincides with the historic apology made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to the child migrants who were sent to Australia and other parts of the Commonwealth as part of the organised migration program.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that many ended up suffering terrible abuse, living in institutions or as child labour on farms. "Today we recognise the human cost associated with this shameful episode of history - this failure in the first duty of a nation: to protect its children," Mr Brown said.
He also paid special tribute to Humphreys who he described as a "constant champion of - and fighter for - child migrants and their families."
The apology by the British Prime Minister follows the National Apology by Kevin Rudd in November 2009. Mr Rudd made this apology at Parliament House in front of a gathering which included Humphreys and many of the British child migrants.
Director Jim Loach believes the film's topical subject matter will resonate with viewers. "It's a very compelling story, and one which I really think audiences will connect with."
Icon Film Distributors have the rights to the film in Australia, though no release date has been set.