Rabbit-Proof Fence

Directed by Philip Noyce

Based on a true story (and the book derived from it) RABBIT-PROOF FENCE recounts a dark episode in Australia’s history, the ‘Stolen Generation’. The film tells the story of three girls torn away from their aboriginal mothers in 1931 and sent thousands of miles away to a harsh settlement where they are to be trained as domestic servants. Their crime? To be half-caste. But 14-year-old Molly has other plans, and soon the trio is heading home across the barren outback with only the rabbit-proof fence as their guide. The excellent actors are mainly non-professionals, though WALKABOUT’s Gulpilil offers an especially poignant reference. Eschewing a dialogue-driven script, Noyce pares the film to its emotional core, with haunting images shot by Christopher Doyle and an evocative score by Peter Gabriel. Winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival, RABBIT-PROOF FENCE is a heart-rending cinematic voyage.

Duration:
93 minutes

Country of origin:
Australia

Year of production:
2002