Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

	Directed by: Philip Noyce	COUNTRY Australia GENRE Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Rabbit-Proof Fence RUNNING TIME 94 minutes
	Produced by: Philip Noyce Christine Olsen John Winter
	Written by (based on a book by Doris Pilkington): Christine Olsen

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Molly Craig	Everlyn Sampi	½
Daisy Kadibill	Tianna Sansbury
Gracie Fields	Laura Monaghan
Moodoo	David Gulpilil
Maud	Ningali Lawford	½
A. O. Neville	Kenneth Branagh	½
Constable Riggs	Jason Clarke
Molly's Grandmother	Myarn Lawford
Mavis	Deborah Mailman

Review

Rabbit-Proof Fence is based on a true story from Western Australia about three half-blooded Aboriginal girls aged 8 to 14 who in the 1930s were removed by force from their mothers in order to be anglicised. The authorities' misguided view was that the indigenous traits of these children (who today are known as "the Stolen Generation") would be gradually erased if they were assimilated by white society. A. O. Neville, the public servant who was in charge of the official policies, represents a stance that was sadly prevailing at the time: that the mixing of the races was something we should try to avoid in order to maintain a "clean" white race.

Director Philip Noyce takes charge, bringing an idealistic sense of justice, if not a completely unbiased approach. There is little doubt that he depicts officials and enforcers in a stereotypical manner (even with Kenneth Branagh as the face of the government), but I have no reason to doubt the authenticity of the horrible stances they convey, and the purification that these girls and Noyce seek reflects no grudges or vengeance – all they want is to set things straight.

The human and emotional drama in Rabbit-Proof Fence has an intrinsic strength which cannot be overlooked, and the girls, while underplayed by the three young leads, powerfully convey the simplistic but immensely strong nature of their characters. There is a timeless power to this primal road movie that is weightier than the political injustices suffered by ethnic minorities in Western societies over the last couple of centuries. And, as Noyce claims through his visuals towards the end, we must perhaps accept that there are qualities in these people's lore that modern Westerners might not be able to fully grasp. Possibly with the exception of Peter Gabriel, who joins in with a musical journey almost as adventurous as the journey of our three little protagonists.