Oranges and Sunshine

Oranges and Sunshine official trailer (YouTube video)

Nov 8, Invermere –

At 7pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, the Columbia Valley Arts Council is presenting an absolutely must-see film, Oranges and Sunshine, at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, part of their Cinefest line-up for this theatre season.

Set in the 1980s, the film tells the story of a social worker, Margaret Humphreys, of Nottingham, England, who learns that thousands of children in the care of British Social Services were illegally and silently deported to Australia in the 1940s. Ms. Humphreys uncovered the scandal of “home children”, a scheme of forcibly relocating poor children from the UK to Australia and Canada with the promise of oranges and sunshine. Instead, they got hard labor and life in institutions such as Keaney College in Bindoo, Western Australia. Margaret made it her mission to reunite estranged families and bring worldwide attention to the cause.

The role of the upright, compassionate and fiercely determined champion of victim’s rights, Margaret Humphreys, is played to perfection by Emily Watson, known for her memorable roles in Punch Drunk Love and Gosford Park.

“Hugo Weaving has rarely been better as the empty Jack and David Wenham brings a sharp edge as the prickly Len,” writes Variety Magazine.

The movie was filmed in Adelaide, Australia, Nottingham and Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Some of the interior scenes were filmed at the University of Leicester.

You are advised to come early as seating at Pynelogs is limited.