Review of Oranges and Sunshine (2010) by Supi G — 17 Jun 2011
Based on the true story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker, who took it upon herself to give the 'orphans' who were deported from England to the Australia a sense of identity, a sense of where they came from and a sense of the childhood they never had.
About 130,000 children were sent to Australia in the 1950s and they were told that they didn't have a mother when they did, and that they would have a good life in Australia, where there's plenty of sunshine and fresh oranges to pick.
What they found though was misery, sexual abuse by the Christian Fathers, and lives as slaves. If adults were subject to slave labour, they'd still have some hope and some faith to keep them going.
When a child is subject to this though, being between 4 and 7 years of age, what does he have to cliing to? It brought tears to my eyes at the atrocities that men of religion commit all in the name of God.
Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham all deliver superior performances in this film. The director, Loach, weaves in some heart-wrenching scenes, where one is just looking for some semblance of normalcy.
Loved it.
This review of Oranges and Sunshine (2010) was written by Supi G on 17 Jun 2011.
Oranges and Sunshine has generally received positive reviews.
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