Les orphelins de 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.

Unmissable film about orphans who have been shipped off to Australia then later finding out that one fifteen year old girl isn't an orphan after all. Beautiful film, full marks. This one really sets you thinking, unjustly unheard of by most. Even though I only saw it about two and a half years, ago I still find it great.

So sad. Wicked what happened to migrant children and their parents. This drama tells the story sensitively yet doesn't pull punches. The acting from the young people and children is outstanding.

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