Rabbit-proof Fence

Rabbit-proof Fence, which is based on a true story, discovers the dark history of the aboriginal people in Australia from 1910 to 1970. What the government is trying to do at that time is to “save” the “half-caste” children from their aboriginal identity and help them fit in the white society. The government forcibly takes the “half-caste” children away from their parents, and put them in the special detention centers which are set up for training. There they are trained very strictly. They are forced not to speak their own language or perform their own custom. They are even told they have no parents, and any child who breaks the rules will receive punishment in a little wooden house.

Molly feels sick of the life in the Moore River Native Settlement. She manages to escape with her two sisters Daisy and Grace. Neville, head of the detention center, is very pissed off. He desperately sends out trackers and police to capture the three girls. The girls’ journey is tough, but fortunately they meet some kind hearted people who offer them food and even shelter some times. Due to Molly’s cleverness and determination, Neville’s “perfect” plans never work out. They successfully hide from the tracker every time. Almost near the end of the journey, however, Grace is cheated by a stranger and is caught by the trackers. There Molly and Daisy missed Grace forever. Following the rabbit-proof fence, the two girls travel 1500 miles and finally get home.

During their scene of escape, the director also gives us an overview of the Austrian vast landscape. The environmental change from coastal region to deeper inland is huge. At the beginning of their escape, there are forest and rivers. Gradually, the green color vanishes, and it is substituted by almost yellow. Where Molly and her sisters live is a semi desert. Not a lot of plants can be found except some dry trees. Water is quite scarce as well. From what I have seen, life of the aborigines is in great harmony with the nature. They hunt for animals that can be found around, like lizards. Sometimes, they also live on birds’ eggs. I think nature is sacred for them, since I see them admire eagles a lot.

What are you going to do when the government kidnapped your children? It’s truly a heart breaking time for thousands and thousands of aboriginal parents. Molly and her sisters are only the lucky ones, but tens of thousands of children remain separate from their mothers. During the long 60 years, they are educated by the white and even forget who they are and the origin of their culture. Body injuries can be cured by medicine. Broken hearts can be cured by time. Lost of self identity is the biggest harm, because it can never be found back again.