Klasse 9

Rabbit-Proof Fence

Film review

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Film review: "Rabbit-proof fence" by Janina Späth

,,Rabbit-proof fence“ is an emotional story, based on a true history with amazing actors, especially the three newcomer girls playing the leads in this film. In particular this film has shocking facts: In Western Australia in 1931, the government and Chief Protector of the Aborigines, A.O. Neville took the half-caste children from their Aboriginal mother and took them to a “training school”, the Moore River Camp. These camps should prepare them for the life in white society. Film focusses on three aboriginal girls, Molly aged 14 (played by Everlyn Sampi), her sister Daisy aged 8 (Tianna Sansbury) and the 10 years old cousin Gracie (played by Laura Monnahan). Separated from their natural mothers, they escape from the camp und run away. But In the end they get captured. They escape again and start a walk towards home. That was a journey of 1500 miles, across the outback. All the time a fence guides the girls along the right way. This fence was constructed in the early 20th century to keep the rabbits from the east out of the western Australia areas. This adventure shows the outback in a beautiful and mysterious way. This heartbreaking movie describes Australia as a beautiful and powerful country. The three young leads are all Aborigines and untrained actors showing an astonishing performance. The director Phillip Noyce wants to show a film which is fiction based on facts. The screenplay written by Christine Olsen is powerful. Rabbit-proof fence started in UK cinemas in 2002. At 94 minutes Rabbit-proof fence is tight and all the time the human story is kept in focus. The film is so lovely because the children never give up their hope and fight! It is amazing and remarkable how they act and with how many emotions the film works! Overall, it is an excellent film, with beautiful imagery and an unforgettable story!

Film Review – „Rabbit Proof Fence“ by Anna Loh, 9c

The film “rabbit proof fence” does not only consist of amazing cinematography and a stunning setting but also of great actors. The storyline, based on true incidents, is full of suspense. The film takes place in 1931 in western Australia. Politicians, amongst others Mr. A. O. Neville (Kenneth Branagh), decided to gather up all children of half aboriginal and half European descent in camps, where they were trained to be domestic servants or factory workers. The first scene shows the destiny of three girls, taken away by force from their family and loved ones and put into one of the camps, Moore River, far away from their beloved home. Not wanting to obey the strict rules at Moore River, Molly (Everlyn Sampi) manages to escape, taking her younger sister Daisy (Tianna Sansbury) and her cousin Gracie (Laura Monaghan) with her. As they decide to follow the rabbit proof fence, which measures a length of almost 1500 miles, they are confronted with extreme conditions. Another obstacle to pass is the tracker Moodoo (David Gulpilil) and the authorities, who try to catch them and bring them back to Moore River with help and support of others and the girls’ strong minds they manage to arrive home safely. Director Phillip Noyce and his crew deliver great pictures of the Australian landscape and give the audience an insight in the situation of 1931 in western Australia. His choice of the lead characters couldn’t have been better. The acting is done very convincingly with amazing detail. Although the three main characters have never acted in a movie before, they act very realistically, as if they were the real roles. Cinematographers give us great pictures from a variety of angles which gives the audience great view of each scene. Overall “Rabbit Proof Fence” was a dramatic and heartbreaking film, especially the first scene, showing how awful Aborigines were treated in 1931 and how terrible it can be to lose your loved ones.

This film rewiev was created by Robin Ort, 9c

"Rabbit-Proof Fence" a movie with exceptional powerful emotions showing three brave girls on a long walk home through the dry desert of Western Australia. The film is about one of the brutal conflicts between the native population called Aborigines and the white people in the first half of the 20th century. Since 1770, the white settlers arrived by ship, many terrible arguments are reasons for a difficult relationship with violence and suppression. In the end, many Aborigines lost their home, their family, their tribe, their traditions, their freedom and often their life. In the 20th century, mixed-race children, that means that they're offspring of an aboriginal mother and a light-skinned father, were taken into special camps, where they learn to be workers or domestic servants. The three main characters of the film are victims of this terrible circumstance. The script is based on a true story. This fact makes the film far more touching. The leads are Daisy, Gracie and Molly, three aboriginal children between 8 and 14 years and A. O. Neville, chief protector of the aboriginal population. The two sisters Molly and Daisy and their cousin Gracie live with their tribe in touch with nature. Having worked on the rabbit-proof fence, their fathers moved on. Separating Australia, the fence should keep the unwanted rabbit plague on one side and the animals of the farmers on the other side. The three mixed-race girls enjoy their life in freedom, but it will be changing soon. One day, A. O. Neville orders Constable Riggs, one of his men, to take the girls by force to a camp. In A. O. Neville's opinion, he helps the Aborigines by breeding out the dark skin. Even though the girls try to run away, Riggs catches them and they're brought to Moore River Native Settlement. There are nuns and guardians teaching them to live like white people and change their culture. Although the girls are very intimidated and quite puzzled, they can't stand the strict structure and start a successful attempt to escape. Molly decides to lead the two younger girls along the rabbit-proof fence. With Molly's strong, unbroken mind, they're able to walk 1500 miles through the desert back home, tracked by A.O. Neville's (Kenneth Branagh) men. "Rabbit-Proof Fence" gives the people information about a dark political century with many mistakes o the part of the Australian government. The leads' amazing acting is one reason for the success of the movie and many awards. Especially the performances of Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury and Laura Monaghan playing Molly, Daisy and Gracie are unbelievably awesome, given the fact that they didn't make any experiences with movies before. The director Phillip Noyce, who had success with some other projects before, focuses the content on powerful emotions and the terrible damage caused by A. O. Neville. The story and the acting are supported not only by a haunting soundtrack, but also by appropriate camera angles, field sizes and great lightning. The atmosphere is shown by dramatic sound effects and stunning images. Overall, director, actors and cinematographer made a fantastic film. A strong spirit and a lot of hope and courage fight against violence and unfairness. At the end of the movie there are a few words about the future of the girls and the consequences of the suppression and the destruction of the aboriginal culture. The damage hasn't been removed yet.