Press release from CG Publicity
A new feature film recounting the true story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who uncovered an international scandal, has just completed filming in the UK and Australia. Oranges and Sunshine, the extraordinary story of organized deportation of children from across the United Kingdom to Australia is the film debut of British director Jim Loach and stars Emily Watson, David Wenham and Hugo Weaving.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has today made a historic apology in the House of Commons to the child migrants who were sent to Australia and other parts of the Commonwealth as part of the organised migration programme. Many ended up suffering terrible abuse, living in institutions or as child labour on farms.
“Today we recognise the human cost associated with this shameful episode of history – this failure in the first duty of a nation: to protect its children,” said Gordon Brown.
“To all those former child migrants and their families; I say today we are truly sorry. They were let down. We are sorry they were allowed to be sent away when at their most vulnerable. We are sorry that instead of caring for them, this country turned its back. We are sorry that the voices of these children were not always heard, their cries for help not always heeded. And we are sorry that it has taken so long for this important day to come and for the full and unconditional apology that is justly deserved.”
He also paid special tribute to Margaret Humphreys who he cited as a “Constant champion of – and fighter for – child migrants and their families.”
This apology follows the National Apology on 17 November 2009 by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Speaking to a gathering at Parliament House in Canberra which included Margaret Humphreys and many of the British child migrants, Mr Rudd said "We acknowledge the particular pain of children shipped to Australia as child migrants – robbed of your families, robbed of your homeland, regarded not as innocent children but regarded instead as a source of child labour. To those of you who were told you were orphans, brought here without your parents’ knowledge or consent, we acknowledge the lies you were told, the lies told to your mothers and fathers, and the pain these lies have caused for a lifetime.”
Oranges and Sunshine director Jim Loach said “It’s a very compelling story, and one which I really think audiences will connect with.”
Oranges and Sunshine is a Sixteen Films co-production with See-Saw Films, Produced by Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman and Iain Canning and presented by Screen Australia and Little Gaddesden Productions. In association with Fulcrum Media Finance, EM Media, South Australian Film Corporation, Deluxe, Screen NSW and BBC Films.
Oranges and Sunshine was filmed on location in Nottingham and London before relocating to South Australia. Oranges and Sunshine will be released in the UK and Australia by Icon Film Distribution. Icon Entertainment International (IEI) is handling worldwide sales for the title.
To download an image from the film please goes to www.picselect.com <http://www.picselect.com/>