Sunshine (released internationally as Sunshine Kings) is an Australian crime drama series which debuted on SBS on 18 October 2017. The four-part miniseries is an Essential Media production, directed by Daina Reid and written by Matt Cameron and Elise McCredie.
Plot
Sunshine is based in Melbourne's inner–western suburb of Sunshine and its surrounds. The story follows Jacob Garang, a young, aspiring South Sudanese-Australian basketballer who is on the cusp of being picked up by scouts for the US College league. He becomes a chief suspect in a police investigation involving a 15-year-old girl, found seriously injured in one of Melbourne's more affluent suburbs.
A second strand in the story concerns Eddie (LaPaglia), owner of the sports shop, who is persuaded to take over coaching duties of the Sunshine Kings basketball team from the earnest but ineffectual parson Skelton (Gyngell). Under new management the team becomes successful and Eddie becomes accepted by the Sudanese community who are the backbone of team. A serious incident in his racist past comes to light and they feel betrayed, resulting in an irreparable loss of trust.
A third strand is the efforts of lawyer Zara Skelton (Lynskey), daughter of the parson, to divert the police from treating the Sudanese as suspects, and eventually helps them discover the truth.
Cast
Anthony LaPaglia as Eddie
Melanie Lynskey as Zara Skelton
Wally Elnour as Jacob Garang
Ror da Poet as Deng Deng
Autiak Aweteek as Santino Dut
Nick Perry as Dazzler
Ana Boal as Mari Garang
Jufia Ajobong as Grace Garang
Tiarnie Coupland as Elly Messina
Kim Gyngell as Rev. Neil 'The Peacock' Skelton
Jane Bayly as Pat Skelton
Nyandeng Makuer as Alek Deng
Kor Puoc as Manute Deng
Paul Ireland as DSS Ian Sloane
Leah Vandenberg as DSC Jaya Prasad
Piath Mcathiang as Nyagua Nyawan
Vince Colosimo as Tony Messina
Freya Stafford as Freya Messina
Rupert Reid as Ben Canny
Kyle Eliott as Vlad Cilic
Emmanuel Martin Malou as Lam Bol
Zhong Duo (Andy) Xia as Mike Wong
Arec Athum as Ayei
Anyuop Dau as Darna
Ben Klarenaar as Larry Grattan
Trudy Hellier as Jackie Grattan
Joe Hooks as Carlyle Jones
Bev Killick as Bev (Stadium Official) Gloria Ajenstat as Doctor Peter Hitchener as Newsreader Maggie Naouri as Rima Saad Alex Cooke as Young Constable Bernard Curry as Dean Simic Dinesh Matthew as Karim Tethloach Ruey as Ruai Nyawan Troy Davis as Labourer Bryce Hardy as Redbacks Coach Rory Bochner as Mia Canny
Episodes
Reception
Guardian Australia critic Luke Buckmaster described the series as an "excellent, beautifully balanced drama", and "one of the standout TV shows of the year". On 6 December 2017, the series received the AACTA Award for Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series at the 7th AACTA Awards ceremony. It also received three nominations at the 2018 Monte-Carlo Television Festival: Best Long Fiction Program, Outstanding Actor in a Long Fiction Program (Anthony LaPaglia), and Outstanding Actress in a Long Fiction Program (Melanie Lynskey).
Home media
The mini-series has been published by Roadshow Entertainment as four separate episodes as broadcast, in a two-DVD package.
