Oranges and Sunshine

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Oranges and Sunshine

R,

2011,

1h 45m,

History/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

71%

72 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

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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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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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 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.

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Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

Nov 3, 2011

1.5/4

The sincerity of feeling is unmistakable. So's the flat-footedness of the writing.

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Leba Hertz

San Francisco Chronicle

Oct 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.

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

Apr 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.

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

Apr 16, 2022

Oranges & Sunshine is a well-made film, but its importance surpasses its ability to entertain.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Jun 3, 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.

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Finn S

Aug 4, 2018

Important story tied to a fairly engrossing screenplay.

Abraham S

Aug 2, 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.

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Harry S

Feb 19, 2017

When humans don't act human.

Han L

Feb 18, 2017

I'd never heard about this human abuse until I watched this movie. So sad to think of all the destroyed families and the horrific abuse of the children. This is recent abuse in two "modern" countries, not abuse in some 3rd world country.

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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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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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