Rabbit-Proof Fence
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Movie Reviews of Rabbit-Proof Fence
Movie Review: A timeless epic
Summary: 5 Stars
Philip Noyce has transformed an epic journey into an example of visual poetry. Three girls, kidnapped and destined for "assimilation" into white Australian society, escape their "protectors". In an astonishing journey, pursued by government police and an Aborigine tracker, they evade authority's clutches. After seven weeks and eighteen hundred kilometres journey, they reach home. Perhaps the longest foot journey in Australia.Noyce beautifully captures the harsh environment traversed by the trio, even though the filming was far distant from the actual location. The girls must use every available cover and device to escape capture, and Noyce maintains the tension throughout the film. Using numerous close-ups to convey feeling, you're kept aware that flight from captivity isn't a social event. Encounters with either white or fellow Aborigines force reserve, suspicion and hesitation - talk is minimised, even among the three escapees. This is a highly visual film in a setting providing oppotunities for lush images.
It is the people, however, that give this film its true grandeur. Clearly, the fleeing girls aren't professionals before the camera. Everlyn Sampi's facial expressions seize the soul in nearly every scene. She's aware of the burden she's carrying, leading the escape, keeping them free, thwarting detection and pursuit, finding the track. David Gulpilil, the Aborigine tracker, also rivets the eye as he leads the quest to return the girls to the mission. How does he feel in pursuit of his own kind in the employ of the dominant, racist, white society? Kenneth Branagh might have absorbed the soul of A.O. Neville so graphically does he portray the "Protector of Aborigines". Called "The Devil" by Aborigines and seeming to personify all the worst aspects of a racist society, Neville was simply an extreme example of his society's mores. Branagh clearly understands this fully, playing the role with marvelous reserve.
This DVD is almost a novelty for other aspects. The discriminating viewer will soon discover that the "Special Features" aren't something to by-pass lightly. Instead of the usual long-winded interviews with directors, producers and actors, Noyce, with his usual skill offers something truly captivating. He takes you on a "hand-held camera" journey to solicit the acting team from remote Australian communities. We are introduced to the various children discovered, assessed and chosen for the roles. These are but children suddenly confronted with a new world. Their reactions are poignant and inspiring.
Finally, the viewer will discover yet another level of reward in watching the film again with the voice-over commentary enabled. Fresh surprises await the patient as Noyce discusses how the film came to him and his enthusiasm for it. He relates his dealings with all the cast. It is David Gulpilil who, with infinite subtlety, transforms the book's tracker into a wholly new and realistic character. Every praise that can be imparted to the three children suddenly becomes remote as you discover Gulpilil manifests the two centuries of Aborigine-white encounters. Buy this film in anticipation of many unexpected revelations. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Movie Review: Outstanding
Summary: 5 Stars
For 25 years, through 1940, A.O. Neville (Kenneth Branagh) served as the Australian government minister in charge of Aborigine affairs. This movie portrays the true story of several of his victims.
The government authorities rounded by Aborigines and forced them to live in allotted areas, where they controlled every aspect of their daily lives, right down to how many pairs of shoes each individual could receive. The worst lot fell upon the mixed children of Aborigine mothers, whom this movie implies were often (if not always) raped by white men.
In 1931, Molly Craig (Everlyn Sampi), then 14, her sister Daisy Kadibill (Tianna Sansbury), 8, and their 10-year-old cousin Gracie Fields (Laura Monaghan) visited the Jigalong trading post with the girls' mother Maud (Ningali Lawford) and their grandmother (Myarn Lawford) and found themselves hunted down like rabbits by the government's police, whom Neville had authorized to kidnap them to be raised at Moore River, a "school" camp to "civilize" Aborigine "half-castes."
The school was in fact a sort of prison; frequent escapees were tracked and quickly returned. And even their tracker, Moodoo (David Gulpilil) was effectively imprisoned there. Not only was his daughter also a victim of the government policy, but he was refused frequent requests to return to his home. Much like the children of Native Americans, kidnapped and confined to similar "English only" schools until well into the 1960s, these girls were mistreated badly, and had their hair cut off for daring to speak Aborigine--or, heaven forefend--escape.
Before the girls' capture, Molly had often seen the "rabbit proof fence," constructed from north to south across Australia to keep western rabbits out of the pastures and ranch lands. Her mother had also shown her the "spirit birds" (whistling kites), which she'd said would always watch over Molly.
And so it is that, after being transported in cages, by truck and train, some 1,200 miles from home--and a very brief separation from their family--the girls follow Molly's lead and set out to return home. The film mostly tells of their nine week journey across harsh outback and desert--to the background music of whistling kites and Australia's haunting Aboriginal didgeridoo, the lengthy, 1- to 2-meter low-toned wind instrument.
Adapted from the book of Molly's daughter--the award-winning author, Doris Pilkington--the film very effectively personalizes the plight suffered by many Aborigine parents and children from 1905 through 1971. Molly Craig died in January 2004, at the age of 87.
Unfortunately, several governments still separate children of "unwanted" minorities from their parents, to this day. These aren't the "Western colonial" governments that viewers might expect; They include Hungary and Romania, who target Rom children and families, as well as African and Asian governments, who persecute other minorities.
Moreover, historically, separating minority children from their families and raising them differently was and remains a time honored practice within the institution of Islamic jihad.
--Alyssa A. Lappen
Movie Review: a heart-wrenching story that deserves to be told
Summary: 5 Stars
Rabbit Proof Fence tells the gripping and extremely painful story of three young "half-caste" girls who were forcibly taken from their mother in Australia in 1931. These girls joined other children of mixed race in a "settlement" camp where they were taught values and customs against their will with the goal of making them maids and servants for the white people living in Australia. It was also hoped that without any "inbreeding" between white people and the aboriginal people, the aborigines would be eventually snuffed out after two generations. This story is clearly not a Disney movie; it's extremely painful but because this is based on real events the story deserves to be told very loudly and clearly so the world knows the injustices done against aboriginal people.
When the film starts, we see sisters Molly and Daisy (Everlyn Sampi and Tianna Sansbury, respectively), torn away from their mother along with their cousin Gracie (Laura Monaghan). The three children are moved to the Moore River "native settlement" camp where they must only speak English; and they must adhere only to Christian values while eschewing the values, customs and religious beliefs of their people. The girls are terrified; but when Molly, the eldest of the three, decides they need to walk back the 1,200 miles to their mother's village in Jigalong, Australia, the two younger children also choose to run away with her.
As many reviewers note, this film keeps you on the edge of your seat every step of the way. Not only is the plot as realistic as possible, the acting of the three children and the cinematography is excellent. Look also for great performances by Kenneth Branagh as A.O. Neville, the "protector" of the aboriginal people and Ningali Lawford as Maud, the mother of Molly and Daisy and caretaker of Gracie.
The symbolism of the "rabbit proof fence" is quite clear. It's not just a way to keep rabbits escaping into the native areas; the fence represents the white people's attempts to separate themselves from another race who they perceive to be inferior. The fence is also a way to keep the aboriginal people out of the white man's land. I am appalled that Australia continued to forcibly remove "half-caste" mixed race children from their parents until sometime in 1970.
Watch this film and see how the three girls make their escape from Moore River camp and make the journey back to Jigalong. Will all three girls make it? Will they evade the hunt for them by A.O. Neville and his local assistant Moodoo (David Gulpilil)? No plot spoilers--watch the movie and find out!
Rabbit Proof Fence is an outstanding movie that won many awards; and it received critical praise. I highly recommend this film so that people can know this true, heartbreaking story of how small minded prejudiced people can be so cruel to other human beings.
Movie Review: A Benevolent Dictatorship is Never Justified
Summary: 5 Stars
The year is 1931 and many well meaning leaders of Australia's dominant white culture share the view of British Chief Protector of Aborigines A. O. Neville (Kenneth Branagh) that the Aborigine "in spite of himself, the native must be helped." Doris Pilkington in 1996 wrote "Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" about the abduction of Molly (Everlyn Sampi), her younger sister Daisy (Tianna Sansbury) and cousin Grace (Laura Monaghan) from their backward and illiterate surroundings. Their mother can offer them a loving home, but the government's educational facility can prepare them to participate more fully in the advanced world of the 20th Century. Director Phillip Noyce does not make the mistake and demonize Neville. The man's heart is truly in the right place. Neville is a racist who adheres to the pseudoscientific theories popular during that era. Surprisingly, his racism is not of the segregationist variety. Neville truly desires full integration of the Aborigine into Australian society. He realizes, quite accurately, that the future prospects of these children will dramatically improve if they become westernized. Regretfully, Neville fails to realize that he has no right to force assimilation upon these Aborigine families. The girls escape from the school and must travel over a thousand miles to return to the land of their ancestors. Neville will not rest until they are safely back in custody. The story revolves around their courageous high risk adventure in avoiding capture and surviving the brutal outback environment. The incredibly beautiful music of Peter Gabriel conveys the inner turmoil of both the benevolent dictators and their innocent and uncomprehending prey. Isn't some sort of compromise possible? Is there anyway of reaching a win-win result?The new world is unrelentingly clashing with that of the old---and Western Civilization as defined by Matthew Arnold must ultimately prevail. The values of the West are nothing more than the championing of the best that has ever been said and written in human history. Race, ethnicity, and religion are not relevant factors. People of Caucasian pigmentation do not inherently have a monopoly on the truth. "Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" is a beautiful film dealing with the awkward issues surrounding the assimilation of the uninitiated into Western society. We are reminded that the so-called natives still have rights that cannot be ruthlessly ignored. The imposition of the minimal values underpinning a viable social order is warranted. After that, only the process of political and social conversion is acceptable. There is also no reason whatsoever to abandon the valid traditions of the indigenous culture. I strongly recommend that everyone in your family sees this powerful and spellbinding movie. It might also behoove me to add that the previously mentioned author Doris Pilkington is is the daughter of Molly.
Movie Review: absolutely stunning
Summary: 5 Stars
One word: Incredible. I don't remember this movie getting much press when it was released, but it should have. This is a top 10 movie for 2002 in my eyes. Rabbit-Proof Fence was directed by Philip Noyce (The Quiet American) and is set in 1930's Australia. Australia had a policy regarding the Aborignal natives. A child born of an aboriginal parent and white parent was known as being half-caste. The government would not allow these children to be raised in their aboriginal families and they were taken away. Rabbit-Proof Fence follows three girls who were taken from their village and relocated 1200 miles away. Before I forget to mention it, this is a true story and is based on a book written by the daughters of one of these girls. The film follows Molly, Daisy, and Gracie: three children whose ages range from 8-14. They are ripped from the arms of their mothers (literally) and taken to the reform school more than a thousand miles away (as far away as New York is from California). The school tries to strip them of their culture. They are introduced to Christianity (as a Christian I feel the religion is true and is a good thing, but it should be a choice not forced upon somebody), can only speak English and they are introduced to an entirely new lifestyle. This is inter-cut with the director of this program giving a lecture on why the half-caste children are a real threat and why they should be taken care of and eventually have the black bred out of them. Kenneth Branagh plays this man, and while he is the villain, he honestly believes that he is doing right and that he is doing the right thing by the half-caste children. By no means is he a sympathetic character, but we see that he is misguided and mistaken instead of evil. He truly believes that the school is the best place for the children. We also see a scene of a runaway being brought back in. No runaway had ever escaped for long.
Molly leads Gracie and Daisy to escape. Most of the movie is of the trek back to their home and evading the tracker (extremely skilled). They are aided at times by white and black citizens and aboriginals, some knowing exactly where these children came from. It is an incredible journey and if it wasn't a true story I'm not sure I would have believed it was possible. At the very end of the film we see a shot of Molly and Gracie as old women. They are walking together. That was a beautiful shot and even knowing that this was true, that shot makes it hit home. These are the women that escaped as children. The postscript on the screen adds to the heartbreak of the movie.
I don't think I can speak enough as to how good of a movie Rabbit-Proof Fence is. It is one of the best of the year and is a movie that deserves to be seen. The more people that see this movie, it will be more likely that films like this will be made.