Watching the Past in the Present - films, tv & documentaries

This post, along with tomorrow’s, is designed to showcase how topics relevant to Find & Connect and its audience have been represented in the media. While these lists are not exhaustive they show how important the stories and memories of Forgotten Australians, Former Child Migrants, members of the Stolen Generations and the abuse of children have become in the media in recent years. This diverse content also provides another way to educate people on the history of out-of-home care, child welfare, adoption and child abuse prevalent in institutions in Australia, and internationally.

Each category is ordered by date of release. The content linked to varies depending upon availability but include direct access to the material, trailers, descriptions and transcripts. Some are fictional accounts, while others are the testimonials of survivors and victims.

Please be aware before clicking through to any of the content that it will sometimes be confronting and disturbing, if required, support is available. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should also be aware that some of the content listed below may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material.

 

Feature Films

Annie’s Coming Out (1984) – https://vimeo.com/75553191

Secrets and Lies (1996) – https://youtu.be/YToU70X6O_Y

Rabbit Proof Fence (2002) – https://youtu.be/Lbnk8wSVMaM

The Magdalene Sisters (2002) – https://youtu.be/vzFMDRSOc00

Australia (2008) – https://aso.gov.au/titles/features/australia-2008/

Oranges and Sunshine (2010) – https://youtu.be/brsWKvi0yeY

Philomena (2013) – https://youtu.be/4DBPqcp6Hc4

Spotlight (2015) – https://youtu.be/56jw6tasomc

Don’t Tell (2017) – https://youtu.be/WecawXk2vkw

 

TV shows/episodes

Home (1983) – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085683/

The Leaving of Liverpool (1992) – https://youtu.be/bIJA2QOkbo0

Love Child (2014 – 2017) – https://www.9now.com.au/love-child/season-1

Call the Midwife – Season 4, Episode 1 (2015) – http://dai.ly/x471pzz

Grace Beside Me – Season 1, Episode 4 (2018) – https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1164106819951/

 

Documentaries

Lousy Little Sixpence (1982) – https://youtu.be/2TfaXdI5Z8Q

Bitter Surrender (c.1989) – https://youtu.be/PNeVe9uORLs

60 Minutes – The Lost Children: After many years, painful, emotional reunions (1999) – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-lost-children/

Stolen Generations (2000) – https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/stolen-generations

Winnie Girls (2000) – https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/winnie-girls-2000/16873/

In the Shadow of Eden (2004) – https://youtu.be/ZPfU5lpMfhA

Deadly Yarns – Don’t Say Sorry (2004) – https://aso.gov.au/titles/shorts/dont-say-sorry/clip1/

Gone to a Good Home (2005) – https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/gone-to-a-good-home-2005/21216/

Kanyini (2006) – http://www.kanyini.com/

Why Me? – Stolen Generations (2007) – https://www.kanopy.com/product/why-me-stolen-generations

60 Minutes – The Lost Children Update (2007) – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lost-children-update/

The Forgotten Australians (2010) – https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-forgotten-australians-2010/22883/

A Girl Like Her (2011) – https://youtu.be/ArcGxUr4XEI

Apology and Beyond (2012) – https://vimeo.com/43805949

First Australians – Season 1, Episode 5  (2012) – https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/11721795853/first-australians-an-unhealthy-government-experiment

Forgotten Australians: Life Stories (2012) – http://www.forgottenaustralians.org.au/resources

Four Corners – Given or Taken? (2012) – http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/given-or-taken/3860552

Lateline – St Vincent de Paul assisted in adoptions (2013) – http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/st-vincent-de-paul-assisted-in-adoptions/4587706

Once My Mother (2013) – http://oncemymother.com.au/the-story/

The Long Journey Home (2014) – http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/long-journey-home/

The Keepers (2017) – https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80122179

Undeniable (2017) – http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-12/undeniable-the-people-behind-the-child-abuse-royal-commission/9222566

Close to the Bone (pre-production)- http://www.documentaryaustralia.com.au/films/4214/close-to-the-bone

 

Tomorrow’s post which will cover stage shows, radio and podcast series, online exhibitions and oral histories.

If you know of any films, tv shows or documentaries that we have missed from our lists then please share them below in the comments section.

 

 

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