The Leaving of Liverpool

'The Leaving of Liverpool' brings into the open one of the UK's greatest shames of how young children, orphans or those who had the misfortune to hail from lower class homes, were snatched from all that they knew and loved to be transported to far-flung countries such as Australia, Canada and South Africa. This was not a government-sanctioned crime of the Victorian era but happened between the late Forties right up until the relatively recent Sixties.

This BBC TV drama follows the plight of twelve-year-old sweethearts Bert and Lily and their young friends as they are wrenched from their native Liverpool and transported to lead harsh new lives in Australia, a country so hot and unfamiliar to children who had never been outside their own city before let alone travelled to a foreign country.

The film highlights not only the abusive treatment the children endure but how the long boat journey itself was treacherous. It also shows how many of these children were lied to with officials telling them their very much alive-and-well parents were dead. The excellent quality of the child actors involve allows the audience to feel an emotional connection to them and empathise with the cruelties they suffer from those who were meant to care for them.

The only quibble I have is why this excellent drama is neither available to own on DVD nor aired more on TV as it's a shame that more people are not aware of it. It's also sad these now grown children's plight hasn't been publicised more.

Because I live in Australia and most of the speech in Leaving of Liverpool was spoken in a very heavy English accent, I couldn't tell what was being said some of the time. However, I have to say that the acting of the two main cast members, Kevin Jones and Christine Tremarco, was absolutely fantastic. Their raw, honest depictions of their characters (Bert and Lily) gave so much extra depth to the story and truly made the audience feel the terrible anguish of the experiences that the children went through.

I have seen this film twice, but both times are at least 6 years ago (I was 15 at the time). I remember the film as being very touching and one of the few films that have made me cry. Since I can't rent it here anywhere and it hasn't been on telly for a while, I wonder if I would still experience the film the same way. I think I would, because from just the fact that children were being shipped to the other end of world is shocking enough (and knowing such things have actually happened), the sexual abuse and punishments are not even necessary to make the film confronting.

Since it had subtitles here in the Netherlands, I haven't had any problems with the heavy accent that other posters talked about. But now that I have lived in England myself, I would like to see it again and see if I could understand it. I'm afraid I'll have to wait till it's on television again.

This film was truly amazing to watch and i would watch it again and again if i could. It is a story of true compassion and friendship and will always be remembered by me as a true great. It truly is wonderful the dialogue was brilliant the acting was brilliant. Marks out of ten i give this film a positive 10/10.

i thoroughly enjoyed this movie! A++++ watched it so many time and get more and more out of it.. i urge people to watch this fascinating movie! i would like to buy this movie but have no idea where to get it plus.. I'm only 14 and i have to ask my mum first but its still the best movie I've ever watch well i think I've said about all i cant say so ill just blab on telling people about the movie because i cant put it on yet. i like to think that the movie would just switch and that you have to watch Bert first but its still pretty good the way its put out.. i cant believe the way they treated them in the orphanage that was so horrible. Going to Australia sounded gr8 when you first hear about it.. but thats only because i live in new zealand and its pretty cold down here.. lol well i reckon this is the best movie i will ever watch.. i give it a gr8 recommendation