Film Review: Oranges and Sunshine

Oranges and Sunshine is an interesting, compelling film based on the true story of Maragaret Humphries and her response to hearing that millions of British children were shipped out to Australia and used as slave labor.

It's a shocking revelation that's very difficult to imagine.  Young children led to believe that their parents were dead and promised a sunnier life in Australia, when in truth their parents were very much alive, believing their child was dead.  Yes, the child was snatched from the parents.  They were not given voluntarily.

And that sunny life?  Well, it might be sunny in Australia, but the kids didn't enjoy that life there.  Most were abused and sent to manual labor.

The film delves into Margaret's (Emily Watson) battle with the government to bring attention to this issue and to reunite these people with their families.  Now adults, they have deep scars from what happened to them. 

Hugo Weaving and David Wenham star as two of the former children who were sent away and had to endure a brutal childhood.  Without their portrayals (especially Wenham's) I think the film would not have the impact it intended.  Otherwise, I felt like the details were glossed over a bit, telling us rather than showing us what happened.

I think the film is worth it just to watch Len (Wenham) as he opens up about his past, and to see his interaction with Margaret and how their friendship evolves in the film.

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