The Land of the Golden Sunset

October 1961. A plane full of women takes off from Madrid, bound for Australia. One hundred and fourteen souls, armed with dreams and fears, head to the ends of the earth.

A JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF THE GOLDEN SUNSET

A LOVE IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET

A SECRET ABOUT TO EXPLODE

Among the green sugarcane fields of Queensland and the golden Australian sky stands the Santa Ana plantation. Elisa, a young woman from Asturias and part of a Francoist and Catholic Church initiative to populate Australia, known as Operation Marta, secures a job on the estate, though she has another goal: to find the father of her child, who disappeared some time ago.

However, the more she investigates, the more mysteries she uncovers surrounding the plantation, its owners, and the harsh labor of the workers. Under the watchful eyes of the plantation priest and guard, Elisa searches for the truth, finding the wise and courageous company of local Aboriginal people and others who, like her, have lost too much to fear anything.

Celia Santos brings to life Operation Marta or “the brides’ plane,” a historic journey in which hundreds of women were sent to Australia with the promise of a better future. The Land of the Golden Sunset reveals the dark mystery behind this promise in a story filled with love, struggle, and hope, alongside unforgettable characters.