Oranges and Sunshine

2011’s Oranges and Sunshine, directed by Jim Loach.

Starring Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving, Lorraine Ashbourne, David Wenham, and Harvey Scrimshaw.

What is it about?

Oranges and Sunshine is based around the true story of English Child Protection Social Worker, Margaret Humphreys (played by Emily Watson), who in 1986 exposed that the British government in the 40’s to 60’s moved over a hundred thousand children in care to Australia and Canada. Many of these children were permanently severed from their families, forced into slavery-like scenarios, and sent to religious organizations that would physically and sexually abuse them. Oranges and Sunshine tracks Humphrey’s attempts to locate the (now grown up) migrant children, and once they start to pour in, reunite them with their families, make public her results, and hold the government accountable for their past actions. As Humphreys absorbs the impacts of vicarious trauma and transitions through various stages of burnout, will she able to keep it together as she sifts through a purpose that may never be finished?

Why is it worth seeing?

Initially showing the apprehending of an infant from an unfit mother, Oranges and Sunshine does an admirable job of depicting the everyday reality of people who choose careers that involve opening doors awful people and organizations don’t want opened, and starting the healing of vulnerable and broken souls. Watson is great here, as the socially just, but still only human character, who fills the air of her client victims’ cries and gasps with the appropriate and powerful silences required. But when she needs to speak truth to power, she doesn’t hold back.

Sunshine’s other strength is in its depictions of the victims. With literally tens of thousands of children ripped from their families’ lives, we see in 2 or 3 case studies revealed here an idea of how deep the wounds go when humans are severed from their loved ones. Everybody grieves in their own way, but it’s always telling when a victim of abuse feels therapeutic cleaning, as it reminds them of their childhoods (no matter how abusive). It’s impossible to not feel for identity-less adults who haven’t seen their parents in decades- learn that they never will due to them passing away.

While its depictions of social work themes and Humphrey’s plight are spot on, Sunshine’s faults include diverging from the truth how Humphrey’s came into her migrant children discovery assignment. Its hard to believe that the local Nottingham child protection authority not only had no problem with her abandoning her caseload, but also supporting her in investigating its likely incriminating and morally execrable past. I especially felt this way because in real life Humphreys was let go from her job. That, and the usual glossing over details that the book likely can better explain in detail. Despite that, Oranges and Sunshine is a sobering look at another human atrocity that will take generations to heal from.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.