 Movie
Reviews
with Andy Gough
Rabbit Proof Fence
Directed by Phillip Noyce
 The long wait is over and the much talked about and almost controversial Rabbit Proof Fence has opened in Lismore, at last.
This film is not a documentary. It is based on the book by Doris Pilkington Garimara, who is the daughter of the films central character Molly. Add to this story all the polishing brought by a veteran Hollywood director in Australia's own Phil Noyce, and studio money to back up a large production on location in the Australian outback, which included an extensive search casting the three young actresses for the lead roles. The result is impressive, to say the least.
The three girls (Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury and Laura Monaghan) will steal even the most frozen heart as they are separated from their families, spirited 1500 miles away and forced to adapt to an alien new world.
Even more emotive is their epic trek on foot, alone in an unforgiving landscape evading the authorities and the relentless 'black tracker' expertly played by David Gulpilil. Their only hope is to find and follow the rabbit-proof fence all the way back home, on the run from the authorities; their only resources their tenacity, determination, ingenuity and each other.
Phil Noyce does us proud when he can portray and so emotively capture the tragedy of the stolen generation and the importance of the nature of social, cultural and political landscapes.
At the same time he convincingly portrays most involved with the forced assimilation as well meaning and genuine, however misguided, rather than as overt villains. Kenneth Branagh, as the ironically titled 'Chief Protector of Aborigines' played an unsettling character.
Seeing these events on the big screen and being so absorbed into their world, minds and hearts made the experience all the more personal and confronting, while at the same time being able to share the heartfelt performances with the whole audience.
Some members of the anti-stolen generation have seized on differences between the book and the film, holding it up as some sort of symbol of a lie about what happened. Firstly, this is film. It tells a story inspired by fact, but for the sake of dramatic story telling, small details have been changed. But despite what some critics claim, the sentiment is accurate.
In fact, this is a story you'd think was too fantastical had it been offered as fiction. Its stark reality cuts deep into the national psyche.
This might well be the most important and educational Australian film ever made.
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