Rating: 
Summary: A movingly told story of real life heroes
Review: This is a marvelously successful movie that is especially moving because the story it tells is true. RABBIT-PROOF FENCE is the story of how Australia for several decades took half-caste aboriginal children (i.e., children of mixed white and aboriginal parentage) and raised them in what was essentially an orphanage school to become domestic servants. The film focuses on three girls--Molly, Daisy, and Gracie--who live beside one of Australia's rabbit-proof fences that cover the country and are taken from their mother to live at the school. The bulk of the movie tells of their escape and 1300 mile journey following the rabbit-proof fence back to their mother.Three things stand out about this movie. First, the simplicity of the story. This is a movie that has easily identifiable good and bad guys. The policy the government embarked on for several decades was obviously and irredeemably racist and evil, and in part made more tragic by not being widely reported. I know a couple of Australians living here in Chicago, and both say they had never heard of this practice while growing up. This film does an enormous service to humankind by publicizing this great crime. Second, the performances by the three girls in the central roles are marvelous. In particular, Everylyn Sampi, as Molly, the oldest of the three girls, stands out. What is remarkable is the three girls were utter amateurs, with no acting experience at all. Sampi manages to imbue her Molly with both great intelligence and iron-willed determination. Third, the film is both a visual and aural delight. I have over the years seen a lot of films shot in Australia, most of them much further east than this one. Most of it occurs in areas of Australia that are less familiar. I saw this film in a theater with five-point sound, and I have rarely seen a film that made better use of that than this one. This is one of those films that no fan of film should miss. It tells a magnificent and true story well. One of the most moving moments is when two of the real life girls, now elderly women, are shown. Just a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, stark, blessedly-cowardly
Review: A beautiful stark film. An amazing story, almost Disney-esque about young heroines refusing to accept their fate. It is cowardly to put their final fates in printed coda at the end but sensible. The film would have been grotesquely unwatchable and depressing if the film had followed the girls into adulthood. It would have left us with epic deadness. This movie is about a holocaust but is what Schindler's List should have been...intimate, people centered, uplifting for the victories tasted...one gets to know three girls and the coda leaves one to ruminate about the evil done with banal and deliberate thought.
Rating:
Summary: Uncommon pluck in the Outback
Review: In RABBIT-PROOF FENCE, it's early 1930s Australia and A.O. Neville (Kenneth Branagh) is the government pencil-pusher empowered to "protect" the native aboriginals, part of which policy is to forcibly remove half-caste children from their native homes and send them to special schools where they can be "improved" by the ways and language of the whites. Rather than being a cruel or bad man, Neville is a well-intentioned and paternalistic bureaucrat whose working theory of racial superiority is at the benevolent end of the spectrum, the other end being the extermination camps of Hitler's Third Reich. As Neville puts it, "The native must be helped in spite of himself." Three children abducted from their home under this program are Molly (14), her sister Daisy (8), and cousin Gracie (10). They're transported to a school 1,200 miles away. Very soon after arriving, Molly decides to escape and walk back home. She convinces Daisy and Gracie to accompany her. The trek back is along the RABBIT-PROOF FENCE, a wire mesh barrier thousands of miles long stretching from the north to southern coasts of Western Australia, and which was designed to keep wild rabbits from devastating the crop lands. The three aboriginal children who play the roles of Molly, Daisy and Gracie (Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, and Laura Monaghan respectively) are untrained actors, but you wouldn't know it by the performances they give. Molly is especially impressive as the one whose strength must keep her companions moving forward on the long march, as well as provide the cunning and skill to avoid both the roving constables on the lookout and the old aboriginal tracker, Moodoo (David Gulpilil), used by the school to hunt down runaways. RABBIT-PROOF FENCE is based on a true story, a fact brought home to the audience by the film's last scene. It's an amazing and moving tribute to the pluck of three children determined to foil the foolish and insensitive policy of a misguided government. This film is not, and probably won't ever be, in wide release. Do yourself a favor and seek it out - and take the kids.
Rating:
Summary: A Benevolent Dictatorship is Never Justified
Review: The year is 1931 and many well meaning leaders of Australia's dominant white culture share the view of British Chief Protector of Aborigines A. O. Neville (Kenneth Branagh) that the Aborigine "in spite of himself, the native must be helped." Doris Pilkington in 1996 wrote "Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" about the abduction of Molly (Everlyn Sampi), her younger sister Daisy (Tianna Sansbury) and cousin Grace (Laura Monaghan) from their backward and illiterate surroundings. Their mother can offer them a loving home, but the government's educational facility can prepare them to participate more fully in the advanced world of the 20th Century. Director Phillip Noyce does not make the mistake and demonize Neville. The man's heart is truly in the right place. Neville is a racist who adheres to the pseudoscientific theories popular during that era. Surprisingly, his racism is not of the segregationist variety. Neville truly desires full integration of the Aborigine into Australian society. He realizes, quite accurately, that the future prospects of these children will dramatically improve if they become westernized. Regretfully, Neville fails to realize that he has no right to force assimilation upon these Aborigine families. The girls escape from the school and must travel over a thousand miles to return to the land of their ancestors. Neville will not rest until they are safely back in custody. The story revolves around their courageous high risk adventure in avoiding capture and surviving the brutal outback environment. The incredibly beautiful music of Peter Gabriel conveys the inner turmoil of both the benevolent dictators and their innocent and uncomprehending prey. Isn't some sort of compromise possible? Is there anyway of reaching a win-win result? The new world is unrelentingly clashing with that of the old---and Western Civilization as defined by Matthew Arnold must ultimately prevail. The values of the West are nothing more than the championing of the best that has ever been said and written in human history. Race, ethnicity, and religion are not relevant factors. People of Caucasian pigmentation do not inherently have a monopoly on the truth. "Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" is a beautiful film dealing with the awkward issues surrounding the assimilation of the uninitiated into Western society. We are reminded that the so-called natives still have rights that cannot be ruthlessly ignored. The imposition of the minimal values underpinning a viable social order is warranted. After that, only the process of political and social conversion is acceptable. There is also no reason whatsoever to abandon the valid traditions of the indigenous culture. I strongly recommend that everyone in your family sees this powerful and spellbinding movie. It might also behoove me to add that the previously mentioned author Doris Pilkington is is the daughter of Molly.
Rating:
Summary: Rabbit proof fence
Review: This is an amazing story. The actors and music,draw you in and it pulls at your heart strings. I strongly recommend reading the book also. I am ready to see the sequel. Noyce does a beautiful job. This historical drama is something all ages should see.I am in awe of these girls courage and determination. This is a saga that is still continuing in their lives of those who remain.
As a mother, I just can't imagine the pain and suffering these women went through and how blind those who partook in this tradegy were. I am fasinated at every detail of the story and would like to learn more.
Rating:
Summary: Feel the Power, Feel the Way
Review: The shameful story at the core of "Rabbit Proof Fence" is not a new one and can be traced back many thousands of years: the pilgrims and subsequent settlers of what was to become the USA decimating the Native Americans of Northern America and the Spanish Conquistadors who conquered and decimated the Aztecs and other Indian Nations of Mexico and South America all in the name of bringing an unwanted civilizing effect on these "natives."
The English settled Australia primarily as a penal colony but when towns began to be form, they felt it necessary to bring about the "civilizing" of the Aborigines peoples of Australia as they attempted to stamp out the native language and religion.
The specific story of "Rabbit Proof Fence" is true and involves the extremely sad yet life affirming journey of Molly and Daisy (Everlyn Sampi and Tianna Sansbury), two half caste girls, who are placed in a school to basically teach them how not to be Aborigine girls and to work in British factories and thereby be accepted by proper British society. The fences of the title are those that ran almost the full length of Australia in an attempt to stamp out a problem involved with the over population of rabbits that plagued Australia in the 1930's.
There is a particularly horrendous scene involving Mr. Neville (Kenneth Branagh), whom the Aborigines call "Mr. Devil," who talks to a group of women about how the Australian Government hopes to rid Australia of Aborigines through the use of inter-breeding with Caucasians:
"All it takes is three generations to accomplish," he says with a self-satisfied smile on his face. Disgusting.
Molly and Daisy and at first Gracie (who is captured) have very strong ties to their mothers who seem to be guiding them home...some 1800 miles away from the school. Daisy and Molly are guided by more than a knowledge of the land and of tracking in particular but by the mystical nature of love: there is a magical scene in which Molly's Mother has her hand on the fence 1800 miles away from Molly who also has her hand on the fence and you can tell that they can "feel" each other.
Much of "Rabbit Proof Fence" reminds me Peter Weir's "The Last Wave" another film with the strong reverberations of another world, another level of reality. In fact, David Gulpilil so persuasive and effective in "The Last Wave," plays a tracker hired by the authorities to find the runaways.
"Rabbit Proof Fence" is a simple story, told extremely well. If it changes the thinking of merely one person so inclined...it will have served its purpose.
Rating:
Summary: Courage and determination during a dark chapter of history
Review: Between 1905 and 1971, the Australian government had a horrible policy. They forcibly removed all half-caste Aboriginal children to special training schools. The grown daughter of one of these children wrote a book about her mother's experiences. This film is an adaptation of that book. The story takes place in 1931, when Molly, then 14, her sister Daily, then 8, and her cousin Gracie, then 10, are literally torn from the arms of their mothers, put in a cage, and taken 1,200 miles away to a school which is actually a sort of prison. Here, they are forbidden to speak their own language, they have to attend a Christian church, and are taught the ways of the white Australian culture around them. Led by Molly, the girls run away. And most of the film is the odyssey of their trek back home, following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects Australia, constructed to keep rabbits out of the pastureland. The villain is clearly the white director of the school. It is amazing, but he actually believes in the racial theories that were prevalent at the time. He believes he is helping them and plays his role well, coming across as stupid and misguided rather than evil. The Aboriginal girls are all unknowns, and terrific actresses, as are the women who play Molly and Daisy's mother and grandmother. The courage and determination of the girls during their three-month journey, the people they meet along the way, and their efforts to dodge the trackers who have been sent to retrieve them by the school, is truly inspiring. This is all set against the backdrop of the Australian outback; the cinematography certainly captures its beauty. The film is 94 minutes long and moves quickly. I immediately identified with the girls and felt their fear as well as their bravery as they made their way across the Australian continent. In a postscript to the story, we learn more about their lives. It did not turn out to be pretty. But two of the girls have survived into their nineties, and we meet them briefly. They are strong women with weathered faces, one of them walking with a cane, but clearly at home in their Outback surroundings. The film is a lesson in inspiration and courage as well as a geography and history lesson about Australia. I loved it and highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: A true story told in an honest manner
Review: 'Rabbit-proof Fence' tells the story of three Aborigine girls who were taken from their home and were transferred to a special school, where they could learn the manners of white people. That was part of a bigger Australian Government plan to 'assimilate' half-caste children into the white community, a plan monitored and executed by the Chief "Protector" of Aborigines. Soon the three girls would commence on a long journey back to their home. This is a story that given to the wrong hands, could easily have turned into a Hollywood melodrama. Still, Phillip Noyce, mostly known for his action flicks, like 'Patriot Games' or 'The Bone Collector', keeps his direction simple and true. He cares for his characters and uses his visual skills in the right direction. He has the help of a nicely assembled cast, that in its majority consists of amateur actors. The three girls, playing the lead parts, and especially Everlyn Sampi as Molly, are impressive. The only big star of the movie is Kenneth Branagh. He succeeds in making us believe that the Chief "Protector" of Aborigines truly believes in his task. He feels responsible for those kids, and genuinely thinks that driving them away from their homes is for their own good. David Gulpilill as the aboriginal tracker sent to find the girls, does not have to utter many phrases, but gives a solid performance, mostly based on his facial expressions. The cinematography is gripping, thanks to the breathtaking Australian landscape. The music, written by Peter Gabriel, is right to the point. Still at a few points I would prefer it, if the volume was just a notch lower. My only objection to the movie is its duration. I know and feel that the girls were like birds in a cage, while at the boarding school. Still, I was not totally convinced, by the scenes of their stay there, that they would decide to escape so abruptly. I know and feel that the road back to their home is a tough one, full of obstacles and challenges. Still, I sensed that something was missing in the way that it was depicted, something that would probably enhance the drama, and absorb the viewer to a greater extend. Concluding, 'Rabbit-proof fence' is a movie that you should see. It tells beautifully a heartbreaking story, while never going over the top with sentimentality. In any case, don't forget to bring your hankies with. They might be useful.
Rating:
Summary: Walkabout 2
Review: I have already done a review for this on the IMDB so i wont give you a word for word repeat here.I will say that i think this stunningly beautiful movie may be the greatest we have ever made in this country.Trust me if you love wonderful cinematography great acting and an incredible story that will touch your heart you just have to see this movie.I am so kicking myself that i never saw it in the theartre.At the moment it is out as a rental only dvd here in ozz but it is a glorious 2 disc set with fantastic comm from philip noyce and great behind the scenes doco.Luckily i managed to score an ex rental this week and it is one of the jewels in my collection.You guys can buy it from ezydvd in early december but i would recomend you catch on the big screen first.It was interesting to find out that philip noyce dropped out of the sum of all fears to come home and make this movie,man did he make a great choice there!
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful piece of Australian drama
Review: Absorbing look at the true story of three aboriginal half-casts who attempted a daring 1500 mile journey across the dangerous desert country of Australia to get home. Gripping all the way with beautiful location photography and great performances from an inexperienced cast. But the cinematography is a noticeable cheat and the children's survival could have been more thorough and better depicted.
Still, the end result is a winning. Notable nods to Keneath Brannagh as the Aboriginal Rights Minister and David Gulpilil is particularly sturdy as the master tracker. One of Noyce's most ambitious films yet.
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