Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Dotbankey A lot of fun.

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

p-stepien Jim Loach, son of the revered Ken, traverses into the underbelly of British history with a subdued biopic of Margaret Humphreys (a tremendous as usual Emily Watson) and the insufficiently widespread story of the Home Children scheme, which transported up to 150 000 children from impoverished British families to orphanages across the globe. In 1987 social worker Humphreys specifically uncovered the involuntary child migration to the Australian colony, starting off in the mid-1900 century, but only ending in 1970. A state secret to which neither the Australian nor the British government wanted to confess to, brought many so-called orphans (promised the titular 'oranges and sunshine') into forced child labour, where they were subject to misuse, rape or even brought into contact with paedophile circuits. Of these the infamous Bindoon orphanage led by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, but built with the blood, sweat and tears of thousands of children, forced to mix cement in the scorching sun with their bare hands or carry stones the size of their upper body. These were the 'lost children of the Empire'.Jim Loach ventures down familiar family paths, instead of attempting to imprint his own signature. With this dimly lit feature he invokes a similarly grayish bleak mundanity, where even people wear drab clothing to underline the sense of dreary mistidings. Moments of light invariably and expectedly inhabit the more optimistic or revelatory moments, a somewhat expected filmmaker standard. Lacking a sense of individual style, borrowing from his great directorial father figure, isn't necessarily a problem. However Ken Loach usually ventures into projects with much less structure, which he can mold to his own liking, whereas the tragic historical backdrop of the Home Children scheme allows little leg-room and signalised a significant overreach on the part of the young director.With an overly TV-movie feel and an antiquated story delivery, Loach fails to instill a growing emotional punch, instead leaving large parts of the shocking reality with an underwhelming pull. That isn't to say that certain moments didn't hit with a vengeance, such as stories of abused Bindoon boys juxtaposed to Margaret struggling to live a normal family life. However for the most part the biopic struggles for dramatic coherence, overexposing certain aspects, while struggling to highlight others (especially regarding the hostile or disinterested reactions of government officials). With no real flow, "Oranges and Sunshine" provide one significant surprise: that such a striking, rage-inducing story brings about such a muted reaction in viewers, unlike the more familial, griping portrayal of the related subject matter of the Aboriginal Stolen Generation presented in "Rabbit Proof Fence". Unfortunately unearthing the ugly truth should really cause a more aggressive shock-induced response...

JohnLeeT I confess to stumbling in a daze from the theatre after experiencing Ms. Emily Watson's performance in this fine film. Few actors can touch the very soul of viewers and rip their hearts from their chests as she once again profoundly changes life views with stunning performance after stunning performance. In this film, it borders on almost too much to bear. Ms. Watson puts so much of her own being into this role, her own humanity and essence, that it is impossible to be less than anything but mesmerized by her. This is an actor in command of all she touches, a monarch of the stage and screen who rules over all she surveys. Her career is marked by unusual choices in roles, roles that no other actor would dare approach. This is the case here as well. Ms. Watson literally sets the screen afire with a performance of such power that you will never be the same again after experiencing it. This is great acting defined. What is truly amazing is that for Ms. Emily Watson, it is par for the course. She continues to be the most talented, gifted actor of her generation as well as of all others.

Saad Khan Oranges and Sunshine – CATCH IT (B+) The film tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who uncovered the scandal of "home children", a scheme of forcibly relocating poor children from the UK to Australia and Canada. Margaret reunites estranged families and brings worldwide attention to the cause. Deported children were promised oranges and sunshine but they got hard labor and life of misery and sexual abuse in institutions such as Keaney College in Bindoon, Western Australia. (Wiki) Oranges and Sunshine is a sensitive subject matter which defiantly put Britain in Shame when Margaret Humphreys broke out the story in 80s. Emily Watson's portrayal of Margaret Humphreys' trouble to help the transported kids all the way to Australia is heart wrenching. The emotional turmoil she goes to work for them while managing her family is something really inspiring. Emily Watson is a great actress and no doubt she brings her emotional range to the real life role model. In supporting cast Hugo Weaving & David Wenhem did a fine job. Overall, it's a sensitive movie about a sensitive issue. Keep in mind its tear jerker, so keep a box of tissue.

emma-pelofi This movie made my cry , I loose my words... At the beginning I thought that it was a bad movie ,another true boring story , complicated , I would prefer to go watch an action movie like Avengers. But after I watched this film , I Completely changed my mind . First the story , I couldn't believe it when I saw that this story had really Happened ! It's so dreadful , 150 thousand children were deported to be treated like dogs, they worked hard on farms , don't see their parent's anymore and their siblings (because they were separated !) It's so sad ! Then I want to talk about the director of this film , Jim Loach , he's an amazing , stunning , wonderful , compelling , director! Now I want to talk about the cast , this cast and the actor's game are impressive ! Emily Waston plays Margaret Humphreys with much intensity , it's unbelievable , this lead role fits her very well ! Hugo Weaving and David Wenham play very stunningly too .Finally you must see the film and enjoy your life because this movie really upset me and now I stop being negative about my life because I am luckier than them and I recognize it !