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It is the tale of sisters Molly (Everlyn Sampi) and Daisy
(Tianna Sansbury) and their cousin Gracie (Laura Monaghan)
who were forcibly taken from their Aboriginal mothers in 1931
because they had white fathers and were sent to live at Moore
River Mission Station.
There they would be educated - according to official policy
- to serve people and grow up fitting in with white society.
Chased by police and a legendary black tracker, the girl's
know the only way to get back to their mothers is to head
north and follow the longest fence in the world, the structure
of the film's title.
If you think the basic plot sounds a tad boring then think
again because this beautifully crafted and photographed movie
flows quickly and without any slow points.
Phillip Noyce has created a classic movie here and has done
so in the face of huge difficulties.
Apart from the on-location difficulties, he took three girls
who had never acted before and has drawn simply stunning performances
from them. One of the extras is a feature on the casting difficulties
and is something you have to watch. Praise must also go to
the girls' acting coach Rachael Maza.
Sampi, Sansbury and Monaghan are just fantastic as the escapees
and bring a luminous innocence to their determined characters.
Kenneth Branagh plays the bureaucrat Mr A.O. Neville, who
was WA's Aboriginal Chief Protector for decades, and does
so in a non-judging way. Branagh's civil servant did what
he did because a) it was the law and b) he thought it best
for the half-caste children.
The video transfer is excellent with almost every grain of
dust and outback sand easily seen. The soundtracks - both
5.1 and stereo - are terrific, with good use of rear speakers.
Dialogue is not hard to understand.
Rabbit-Proof Fence is an uplifting story of the strength
of the human spirit in an at-times brutal landscape run by
those who think they know best. It doesn't pull punches, but
when it lands its blows it does so in a matter of fact way
and not in an off-putting lecturing style.
A must-see.
Conclusion: Movie 90%, Extras 85%
Continued: DVD
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