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Rabbit-Proof Fence: A Film Review

A film about British thunder down under

Original posting: December 2003 Issue

by MEENADCHI GUNANAYAGUM, staff writer

In their hey-day, the British could breed imperial colonies like rabbits. And much like the rabbits they imported to Australia, they soon began devastating the native land. Rabbit-Proof Fence is the story of three aboriginal children who, like many others, were kidnapped from their mother and placed in an orphanage to be raised as white children. Unable to forget their home, the three young girls determine themselves to escape and a 1,500 mile trek which will lead to an inevitable future. Directed by Philip Noyce with music by Peter Gabriel, Rabbit-Proof Fence is a true story based on the book by Doris Pilkington Garimara, daughter of one of those girls.

Wild rabbits brought as sporting game by the British quickly began to terrorize the country, as they lacked any natural predator. In order to defend the land, the British set up the rabbit-proof fence. This fence, built in the early 1900s, was the longest fence in the world, stretching from northern Australia to the south. The wild rabbits were kept on one side of the fence thereby protecting the farmland on the other side. In 1911, the British enacted the Aboriginals Ordinance. This act created the office of Chief Protector. He became sole guardian for every aboriginal or half-caste (biracial) child born on the island. It was his responsibility to raise the children in a civilized manner – basically to breed the black out of them. This process began by separating the children from their aboriginal roots and placing them in missionary orphanages. From there they could be instilled in society as domestic workers and the rest would follow. A. O. Neville (Kenneth Branagh) held this position for 25 years, retiring in 1940. In 1931, he set his sights upon three half-caste girls, Molly (Everlyn Sampi), her sister Daisy (Tianna Sansbury), and their cousin Gracie (Laura Monaghan), born and raised near the rabbit-proof fence. The girls are forcefully removed from their mothers and taken to the Moore River orphanage. There they are witness to beatings and intimidation used to keep the girls in line as well as the preferred treatment of lighter children. After suffering in this state for too long, Molly, 14 years old, riles up her younger and less decisive compatriots, seemingly ages 8 and 10, announcing it is time to return home. With no food or water, Molly uses her wits, ingenuity, and luck to fend for her family and to elude the scouring police. Eventually she finds herself against the rabbit-proof fence, realizing it could be their guide home.

Rabbit-Proof Fence is insightfully acted. Entirely devoid of high hysterics and melodrama, this film brings a simple story home to its audience. Sampi is a powerful character as Molly, never losing sight of her goal. “They came and took us one day…They told us not to speak our language. They told us we had no mothers. I knew they were wrong.” Branagh’s acting is equally significant. I barely recognized the outspoken Hamlet in this demure, well contained role as a man acting on his skewed impressions of right and wrong. The film raises and revives fierce opinions on British imperialism, the damage it’s done worldwide, and reparations/apologies that ought to be made. Aboriginal children were taken from their families all the way through the early ‘70s. Sixty years worth of children are therefore referred to as the Stolen Generation. They were denied their culture and identity, leaving them in a space of racism and confusion. Rabbit-Proof Fence is a story that bolsters the spirit to highlight one’s inner strength. The final ending of Molly, Gracie, and Daisy is one I suggest you discover for yourselves as it was a sincere experience I will not forget.