Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers:

Doris Pilkington (book)
Christine Olsen (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 February 2002 (Australia)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History

Tagline:

If you were kidnapped by the government, would you walk the 1500 miles back home?

Plot:

In 1931, three aboriginal girls escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff and set off on a trek across the Outback.

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Australia | Journey | Fence | Aborigine

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 21 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Everlyn Sampi	...	Molly Craig
Tianna Sansbury	...	Daisy Kadibill
Laura Monaghan	...	Gracie Fields
David Gulpilil	...	Moodoo
Ningali Lawford	...	Maud
Myarn Lawford	...	Molly's Grandmother
Deborah Mailman	...	Mavis
Jason Clarke	...	Constable Riggs
Kenneth Branagh	...	A.O. Neville
Natasha Wanganeen	...	Nina, Dormitory Boss
Garry McDonald	...	Mr. Neal at Moore River
Roy Billing	...	Police Inspector
Lorna Leslie	...	Miss Thomas
Celine O'Leary	...	Miss Jessop
Kate Roberts	...	Matron at Moore River

MPAA:

Rated PG for emotional thematic material.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

Aboriginal | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/12 | South Africa:13V (theatrical rating) | South Africa:PG (DVD rating) | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #38838)

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

The world premiere of this film was held in an outdoor screening at Jigalong, the outback community where the girls were taken from, and where they still live.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the opening scenes of the movie the lizard that they have been hunting is killed and when they are carrying it back to their home the lizard is first carried one way then switches with the change in camera angle and then changes back.

Quotes:

[First lines]
Title Cards: Western Australia 1931
Title Cards: For 100 years the Aboriginal Peoples have resisted the invasion of their lands by white settlers.
Title Cards: Now, a special law, the Aborigines Act, controls their lives in every detail.
Title Cards: Mr. A. O. Neville, the Chief Protector of Aborigines, is the legal guardian of every Aborigine in the State of Western Australia.
Title Cards: He has the power "to remove any half-caste child" from their family, from anywhere within the state.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Gulpilil: One Red Blood (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

So much with so little.

Few films have garnered so much applause (from critics and public alike) with so little. The plot of "Rabbit Proof Fence" can be found elsewhere on this website. Suffice it to say it's about three girls walking and walking and walking and walking and....across some of the most visually austere country on the planet; the Aussie outback. There's little story behind the film, zilch for Hollywood tinsel, and a minimal cast of relative unknowns (except for Branagh's small role). It would be easy to make the case that this film is one long boring flick. However, it would also be easy to make the case it is a beautifully filmed story of courage, determination, and the triumph of the human spirit. I would argue the latter. (B+)