Australian Aboriginal History on Screen: Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) Review

RABBIT-PROOF FENCE

DIR. PHILLIP NOYCE, 2002

SCORE: ★★½

A film about Australian Aboriginal culture that links to the same mistreatment that history has seen in Canada, Rabbit-Proof Fence was released in 2002 and directed by Phillip Noyce, with a screenplay that was both based on a book and a true story that was adapted to the screen by Christene Olsen. The film follows the story of three indigenous girls, with Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, and Laura Monaghan playing the lead characters. The film is of a short and palatable 94-minute runtime, and the story takes place in a historically accurate 1930’s time period.  

It’s a film that does a great job at showcasing the nature in which Aboriginal people were taken from their homes and families, alongside the mistreatment that they faced in these times. The direction of the film ensures that cultural benchmarks are hit, and there are indigenous symbols seen throughout the film while using native languages and imagery to showcase the attention to detail and tradition throughout.  

Rabbit-Proof Fence follows three young indigenous girls escaping an indigenous internment camp in the 1930’s after they were taken from their families and placed in the camp. It is loosely based on a true story, which was first adapted into a book before becoming an on-screen film. The plot of the film follows their journey back home to their community after fleeing the internment camp. The girls are hunted by trackers and law enforcement, and their journey is turned into an intense on-screen display of courage and culture.  

The film deals with dark and distressing subject matter in an educational and informative context, nothing is offensive or done incorrectly, and it’s clear to see while watching that the film was created by people who care about the topics that they were presenting. The atmosphere of the movie itself is dark and full of nature scenes, with deserts and grassy fields filling intense running shots. It’s a movie that follows the journey through visuals and messages rather than a massive amount of dialogue, making it easy to follow and understand. It’s a film that works to showcase the history of Aboriginal people without using stereotypes or overdramatization – and it’s a story intense enough to work within an on-screen adaptation very well.  

In terms of imagery, Rabbit-Proof Fence hits the mark incredibly well. It isn’t a film that overplays things or creates a flashy atmosphere; it tells the story how it is and sticks to bland, dry colours, with nature representing courage, livelihood, and freedom. When the film is at its most grim, the scenes focus on brown and desert tones, whereas the signs of hope use the symbolism of birds, trees, and grass to represent dreams and spirit. The story is accurate to accounts of people who have been victims of internment camps, and the accuracy historically is something that most films do not possess on such an exceptionally accurate scale.  

Birds are one of the most important symbols in the film as a whole, with an early scene displaying the cultural symbolism of birds as healers and spirit guardians. This makes them an often reoccurring phenomenon throughout the movie, and some of the most potent moments of hope and freedom are met with birds swooping overhead in various shots. It’s a movie that uses distinct and slight symbolism to create a more meaningful picture. Sand is used to represent desolation and entrapment, with grass being a symbol of life and freedom. Nature is used as the core symbol of the movie, and it ties everything together into something deeply rooted in traditional views.  

It isn’t a film that strays away from dark themes, and it covers the mistreatment and abuse of Aboriginal peoples in a way that is unfiltered, yet tasteful and appropriate. It’s something that feels deeply accurate, and it’s a story that is sure to resonate with any Indigenous people that view it. It’s a great film to educate people who are not informed of the history surrounding Aboriginal communities; and it sheds light on an important, shunned piece of history that has deeply affected both Australian and Canadian Aboriginal groups.  

This is a film that people who are not deeply aware of internment camps should view at least once – and any Indigenous viewers are sure to appreciate the high standard of accuracy present throughout the film. Although it isn’t deeply immersive or entertaining, it presents an important message that makes it worth seeing.