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A new feature film recounting 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. Oranges and Sunshine, the story of organised deportation of children from across the United Kingdom to Australia is the film debut of British director Jim Loach and stars Emily Watson, David Wenham and Hugo Weaving.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made an historic apology to the child migrants who were sent to Australia and other parts of the Commonwealth as part of the organised migration program. Many ended up suffering terrible abuse, living in institutions or as child labour on farms.
In his apology Mr Brown said: “To all those former child migrants and their families… we are truly sorry. They were let down. We are sorry they were allowed to be sent away at the time when they were most vulnerable. We are sorry that instead of caring for them, this country turned its back. And we are sorry that the voices of these children were not always heard, their cries for help not always heeded. And we are sorry that it has taken so long for this important day to come and for the full and unconditional apology that is justly deserved.¹”
The UK Apology follows the National Apology on 17 November 2009 by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Speaking to a gathering at Parliament House in Canberra which included Margaret Humphreys and many of the British child migrants, Mr Rudd said “We acknowledge the particular pain of children shipped to Australia as child migrants – robbed of your families, robbed of your homeland, regarded not as innocent children but regarded instead as a source of child labour. To those of you who were told you were orphans, brought here without your parents’ knowledge or consent, we acknowledge the lies you were told, the lies told to your mothers and fathers, and the pain these lies have caused for a lifetime.”
Oranges and Sunshine was filmed on location in Nottingham and London before relocating to South Australia.
The film’s director Jim Loach said “It’s a very compelling story, and one which I really think audiences will connect with.”
Oranges and Sunshine is a Sixteen Films co-production with See-Saw Films, Produced by Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman and Iain Canning and presented by Screen Australia and Little Gaddesden Productions. In association with Fulcrum Media Finance, EM Media, South Australian Film Corporation, Deluxe, Screen NSW and BBC Films.
Oranges and Sunshine will be released in the UK and Australia later this year by Icon Film Distribution.
References:
1. Gordon Brown apologises to child migrants sent abroad – BBC News, 24 Feb 2010.
Source: CG Publicity