Rabbit Proof Fence - A Movie by Phillip Noyce.

Essay by juicebox12High School, 10th gradeA+, August 2003

download word file, 3 pages 3.0 1 reviews

Downloaded 95 times

Rabbit Proof Fence is not a movie, but a tale. A tale of courage, a struggle against all

odds, and determination. But this is no movie, no fiction novel. This is a true story,

the journey and the hardships are true. This happened 70 years ago. But was the way

in which Philip Noyce, director of the film, re-created the account biased or un-biased

to the actual story? Was the film overly sympathetic to one colour or the other?

The story begins when the 3 Aboriginal girls, Molly, Daisy and Gracie are happily

living in a settlement near Jigalong depot. When the officer for Aboriginal affairs

orders that they be sent to Moore River settlement for being half-caste (one

Aboriginal and one Caucasian parent), there is great sadness in the Jigalong

Aboriginal settlement. The girls arrive at Moore River settlement, an Aboriginal

'education' centre, where they are forced to go to church, make clothing and are only

allowed rations.

When one day the girls are asked to take out the chamber bucket

while everyone else is at church, they make a hasty escape to try to get home. This is

not an easy journey, especially with the Aboriginal tracker on their tails, and they are

starving, dehydrated and weak. They encounter several helpers along the way, who

provide them with food, water, clothing, directions and shelter, but they still do not

know who to trust. This dubious feeling that enshrouds them is enforced when they

were deceived- a so called 'helper' told them to be at Warrambula station as their

mother was going to visit, Gracie went and got taken away by Police. With only

Molly and Daisy left, they once again must find home using the rabbit proof fence.

Throughout the film, it alternates stories with the 3...