Rabbit Proof Fence
Directed by Phillip Noyce; 2002.
Rabbit Proof Fence is a very powerful film, based on the true story of the three young Aborigine girls Daisy (Tianna Sansbury), Grace (Laura Monaghan) and Molly (Evelyn Sampi) who embark on an escape from a detention centre for half-caste Aborigines after being abducted from their families at their home of Jigalong. The eldest, Molly, concocts an ambitious and daring plan to go on the 1500 mile journey home, and hence the name of the film, the only way they can guide themselves is by following the giant rabbit proof fence, that stretches all the way across Australia.
The film is set in the 1930’s, at which time the authorities began their awful racism and hatred towards half-caste Aborigine children. Any half-castes that were heard of were hunted down and stolen from their families so as not to ‘contaminate’ Australia’s society. Missing their mother, the two sisters and their cousin decide to rebel against the authorities, the leader being the Government ‘Protector’ of Aborigines (Kenneth Branagh), and return home on foot in the sweltering Australian outback sun.
The film is based on the book written by Molly’s daughter Doris Pilkington, and the way the Phillip Noyce has portrayed the scenery and backdrops in the film has added intensity to the difficulty of the hike that the girls endure. He has chosen very sufficient ways of inviting the audience into the movie and assisting to help them feel the extreme heat and conditions that were handled by the young home-sick girls.
This movie is probably one of the biggest tear-jerkers I have ever watched, and could watch it over and over again. The only thing I could criticise about the film is how little speaking there is. However in saying that, what dialogue there is, is very effective and works very well. Sometimes, not understanding what the people are saying and having to read subtitles in a film makes it more powerful and realistic. The cast of the...