Film+-+Rabbit-proof+Fence

Rabbit-proof Fence Rabbit-proof fence is an Australian film from 2002

**Summary** In Western Australia 1931 three aboriginal girls are taken away from their families and their home. This is part of the government’s policy. The goal of this policy was to slowly extinct the aboriginal race by taking away as many half-caste children as they could. Brutally Molly, Daisy and Gracy, two sisters and a cousin are brutally taken away from their family placed in a camp at Moore River 2400 kilometres from their home in Jigalong. The children at these camps were taught how to act in order to be segregated into the culture of the white Australians. They were especially trained to function as domestic servants.

The eldest, Molly knows right away that she cannot stay at the camp. She wants to escape with her younger sister and cousin. Their way home runs along the Rabbit-proof fence. The Rabbit-proof fence is a fence that stretches thousands of kilometers through the Australian wilderness. Its cause was to keep rabbits and other agricultural vermin from the east out of the Western Australian pastoral areas. They know they have to follow this fence to find their way home. The challenge is not only the long way home, but the exceptionally dry climate and the lack of food and water.

The long way home is dramatic as the girls are chased by police and the experienced tracker from the camp.
**Important information about country/culture** This film portrays The Stolen Generation, which is the way native children of Australia were legally taken away from their families by the Australian government. The removals lasted from 1869-1969, but some places it even lasted into the 70s. The result the government wanted the children to grow up amongst whites and lose their heritage. A large amount of these children ended up as servants for whites. The major goal was to extinct the aboriginal race. By this we know that the Australian nation has a history where the native populations, mainly aborigines had fewer rights in society and looked upon as less worthy.

'Rabbit-proof fence' gives a good description of the Western Australian wildlife and landscape. The viewer can see a vast and extraordinary dry area. It makes one wonder how these young girls were capable of walking the hundreds of kilometers home along the rabbit-proof fence. See the picture to the right for their route from the camp at Moore River home to Jigalong: The girls followed the fence around 2400 kilometres.

Considering educational value, ‘Rabbit-proof fence’ is a fantastic film.This films gives racial segregation and cruel treatment about native inhabitants a face. Reading about the same theme would not leave the visual images that a film would. The story is serious and based on facts, as this is the screen version of a true story. It gives an insight on what other people in the world who are not as fortunate have to face. This film is definitely suitable for an English course.

**Theme**  The theme in this film is determination and power and law. If it was not for Molly’s extraordinary stubbornness, these girls would have never made it all the way home. Her features as a leader were essential. When it comes to power and law, this film illustrates the cruel ways to abuse power. It is hard to believe that the aborigines had lived in Australia for hundreds of years before the English settled there. The new settlers made themselves comfortable and became the superior strength of the country. The innocent aboriginal population who would never disturb these new settlers anyway were looked upon as a problem, and a target to extinct.

Theatrical Trailer: media type="custom" key="9580046"

Source: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Image sources: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:rabbit_proof_fence_map_showing_route.PNG <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://thecia.com.au/reviews/r/rabbit-proof-fence.shtml