25/11/2009

British actress Emily Watson has joined Hugo Weaving and David Wenham in the cast of Jim Loach’s debut feature Oranges & Sunshine.

Loach is a veteran of British television and will direct from Rona Munro’s script, which is based on Margaret Humphreys’ book Empty Cradles. Humphreys’ book uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times – the organised deportation of children in care from the United Kingdom to Australia. Humphreys almost single-handedly reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice.

Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning are producing for See-Saw Films and Sixteen Films with funding coming from BBC Films, Screen Australia, Little Gaddesden Productions, Fulcrum Media Finance, South Australian Film Corporation, Deluxe and Screen NSW. Icon Film Distribution is handling international sales and will distribute in the UK and Australia. Diaphana Films, Lusomundo and Odeon will distribute in France, Portugal and Greece respectively.

The producers said, “Oranges & Sunshine is an incredible story of courage and compassion, one that exposes an injustice suffered by thousands of Australians. This film will strengthen and deepen our understanding of the past, and will touch and inspire audiences around the world.”

Icon’s Mark Gooder said, “Everyone at Icon has high expectations for this film. The script is beautifully executed and the story is utterly compelling because it is true. I think the end result will be a film that will resonate with audiences everywhere.”