Rabbit-Proof Fence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rabbit-Proof Fence |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Phillip Noyce |
| Produced by | Phillip Noyce Christine Olsen John Winter |
| Screenplay by | Christine Olsen |
| Starring | Everlyn Sampi Tianna Sansbury Laura Monaghan David Gulpilil Kenneth Branagh |
| Music by | Peter Gabriel |
| Cinematography | Christopher Doyle |
| Editing by | Veronika Jenet John Scott |
| Studio | Australian Film Finance Corporation Rumbalara Films Olsen Levy Showtime Australia |
| Distributed by | Becker Group (Australia) HanWay Films (Overseas) |
| Release date(s) | 4 February 2002 |
| Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | Walmajarri English |
| Budget | US$6 million |
| Money made | US$16.2 million |
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film directed and produced by Phillip Noyce. The story is based on the true biographical book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, written by Indigenous Australian author Doris Pilkington Garimara. The movie tells the true story of three young Indigenous girls who escape a government camp in 1931. They walk over 1,500 kilometres across the Australian desert to return home to their family.
The movie follows 14-year-old Molly Craig, her 8-year-old sister Daisy, and their 10-year-old cousin Gracie. After government officials take them from their family, the girls find the state's famous rabbit-proof fence. They use the long barrier as a guide through the wilderness. The film highlights the history of Australia's Stolen Generations, a period when thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their parents.
The film received high praise worldwide for its emotional story and beautiful desert landscapes. In 2005, the British Film Institute placed it on its list of 50 films people should see by age 14.
Contents
What Is the Plot of Rabbit-Proof Fence?
The story begins in 1931 in the remote town of Jigalong, located in Western Australia. Molly lives happily with her mother, grandmother, younger sister Daisy, and cousin Gracie. The community is located right along Australia's real Rabbit-Proof Fence, which spans the entire continent.
Why Were the Girls Taken From Home?
In the state capital city of Perth, a government official named A. O. Neville serves as the legal guardian for Indigenous children. At this time, Australian government policies allowed officials to take mixed-ancestry children away from their families. Neville believed that sending these children to distant training settlements would force them to blend into European culture.
Neville signs an order to remove Molly, Daisy, and Gracie from Jigalong. A local police officer forcibly takes the crying girls away from their mothers. The children are driven and transported hundreds of miles southwest to the Moore River Native Settlement.
How Did the Girls Escape Moore River?
At the Moore River settlement, the children face harsh rules and strict supervision. They are forbidden from speaking their native languages and are trained strictly for domestic work. Anyone who tries to run away is caught and punished.
Molly notices the dark clouds of an approaching rainstorm. She realises the heavy rain will wash away their footprints in the mud. She quickly gathers Daisy and Gracie, and together they slip out of the camp unnoticed.
How Did the Children Follow the Fence Home?
The camp director sends Moodoo, an experienced Indigenous tracker, to hunt down the girls. Molly uses clever tricks to confuse the trackers, such as walking in creeks and dragging branches behind them.
After several days of wandering, Molly spots the familiar wire of the Rabbit-Proof Fence. She knows that this single fence connects all the way north to her hometown of Jigalong. The girls begin a remarkable journey, walking for nine straight weeks across the dry Australian outback.
During their long trek, kind strangers help them with food and winter coats. However, government officials try to trick them by spreading false news that Gracie's mother is waiting at a nearby train station. Gracie leaves the group to find her mother, but police recapture her. Heartbroken, Molly and Daisy must keep going alone. Guided by the fence and a soaring spirit eagle, the two sisters finally reach Jigalong and reunite with their mother.
What Real Events Happened After the Journey?
The movie ends with real-life footage of the true Molly and Daisy as elderly women. Molly shares that she was captured a second time years later and taken back to Moore River. Amazingly, she escaped once more and carried her infant daughter along the exact same path home. Molly and Daisy lived the rest of their lives close to their home community in the desert.
Historical Context: Australia's Stolen Generations
The events shown in Rabbit-Proof Fence are part of an important chapter in modern history known as the Stolen Generations. Between roughly 1910 and 1970, government policies across Australia removed tens of thousands of Indigenous children from their communities.
Understanding the Historical Policies
- Australian officials created laws granting them total control over Indigenous families.
- Children were sent to distant church missions or state-run settlements.
- The system prevented children from learning their traditional languages, cultural dances, and ancestral history.
- The policy caused deep grief and lasting sadness for Indigenous families across the country.
The National Apology and Healing
In 1997, the Australian Human Rights Commission released an official report called Bringing Them Home. The report detailed the painful experiences of the children who had been taken away.
On 13 February 2008, the Australian Prime Minister delivered a formal National Apology to Indigenous Australians. The government formally apologised to the Stolen Generations for the laws and policies that broke families apart.
Characters and Main Cast
The cast featured talented young performers alongside well-known veteran actors.
- Everlyn Sampi as Molly Craig: The determined 14-year-old leader of the group who never gives up on returning home.
- Tianna Sansbury as Daisy Kadibil: Molly's gentle 8-year-old sister who trusts Molly to guide her.
- Laura Monaghan as Gracie Fields: Their 10-year-old cousin who longs to be reunited with her mother.
- David Gulpilil as Moodoo: The skilled tracker working at Moore River, whose own daughter is kept at the camp.
- Kenneth Branagh as A. O. Neville: The chief government official who directs the removal policy from his office in Perth.
- Ningali Lawford as Maude: Molly's loving mother who waits bravely for her children to return.
- Deborah Mailman as Mavis: A kind domestic worker who offers food and shelter to the runaway girls.
How Was the Film Made?
Director Phillip Noyce was inspired by the 1996 biography written by Doris Pilkington Garimara. The author was the real Molly Craig's daughter, and she wrote the book to preserve her mother's remarkable courage.
Casting the Young Actors
The filmmakers travelled across remote towns in Western Australia and the Northern Territory to find young Indigenous girls to play the lead roles:
- Everlyn Sampi was chosen out of thousands of children to play Molly.
- The young actresses had never acted in a major motion picture before.
- The film crew worked closely with Indigenous elders to make sure the girls felt safe and supported during filming.
Filming in the Outback
Filming took place in remote locations across South Australia and Western Australia:
- The crew filmed scenes in the stunning, rugged landscapes of the Flinders Ranges.
- The hot and dry climate required special care to keep everyone healthy and hydrated.
- Renowned Indigenous photographer Mervyn Bishop took production photographs on set, which are now preserved in the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
Soundtrack by Peter Gabriel
British rock musician Peter Gabriel composed the film's musical score. The soundtrack album is titled Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence. Gabriel combined traditional Indigenous musical instruments, including the didgeridoo, with modern ambient synthesizers to create a dramatic, atmospheric sound.
Reception and Cultural Impact
Rabbit-Proof Fence received strong positive reviews from film critics and audiences around the world.
Critical Reviews
Reviewers praised the natural performances of the young child actors and the moving soundtrack. Critics noted that the movie helped teach international audiences about Australian history in an engaging and accessible way.
Awards and Recognition
The film earned numerous major film industry awards:
- Australian Film Institute Awards: Won Best Film, Best Director (Phillip Noyce), and Best Original Music Score (Peter Gabriel).
- Inside Film Awards: Won Best Feature Film and Best Actress for young Everlyn Sampi.
- Golden Globe Awards: Nominated for Best Original Score in a Motion Picture.
Major Themes Explored in the Movie
The movie explores several key educational and social themes that remain relevant today:
Family and Connection to Country
The central theme of the story is the deep bond between family members and their homeland. Indigenous Australians share a spiritual connection to their traditional lands, often called "Country." Molly's determination to walk over 1,500 kilometres proves that the love of family is stronger than physical distance.
Courage and Resilience
The three girls demonstrate great survival skills in the wilderness. They use natural landmarks, track water sources, and rely on each other to survive the harsh outback.
Justice and Human Rights
The film encourages viewers to think about unfair laws in history. It shows how the actions of government officials, even when they thought they were doing good, caused harm by ignoring basic human rights.
See also
In Spanish: Rabbit-Proof Fence para niños
- Cinema of Australia
- Survival film, about the film genre, with a list of related films
