Review of Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) by Ike O — 10 Sep 2009

First off, I think it's relevant to state that if the Hiroshima bomb had gone astray and shrouded Australia in a nuclear winter spanning 40years, it would only be a tip of the iceberg of what the colonists deserve for what they did to the Aborigines. 'Rabbit-Proof Fence' explores an oft-ignored time when the Aussie government exerted control over everyone born in 'their' land and could - and would - seize any half-caste child (a miracle they didn't refer to them as half-breeds) in order to stave off any breeding between the two races.

Kenneth Branagh, proving he is the go-to guy for both Shakespearean masterpieces and when you want someone reliable to oversee the control and utter undermining of the human rights of an entire race (in wake of TV's holocaust movie 'Conspiracy'), is Mr. Neville, the face of the crown's efforts to keep the races pure. He seizes 3girls from their mother and relocates them to a camp where they are to be trained to become slaves (such lofty standards), but the girls defy the odds to escape and begin an arduous 1200mile journey back home along the rabbit-proof fence.

The story and style are simple, and what ignites the film is the pluckiness and life that the 3 girls in question bring to the screen. Evelyn Sampi, as Molly, the oldest (14), turns in a brilliant performance; quietly fierce and determined, and committed to her two younger charges as she orchestrates their journey back to their mother. She does so much with so little dialogue, is constantly riveting and heartbreaking when tragedy befalls their merry band. Ningali Lawford (Molly's mother) is equally riveting and a fabulous emotional anchor. The other kids too are simply great.

Ken Branagh is effective as the incredibly austere Mr. Neville (fondly referred to as 'devil!'), and while he was the chief ingredient in my determination to watch this film, it was the simultaneously life-affirming and heartbreaking journey of the girls, along with the atrocious nature of this black aspect of history and the human spirit, that kept me rooted.

Moments in history like this need to be remembered. Like the issue of residential schools in Canada and the US, or this nonsense in Australia. The Holocaust wasn't the only mind-boggling atrocity committed in the allegedly civilized world in the 20th century, but you probably wouldn't know that from public awareness.

A Jamaican friend of mine said he can't watch Djimon Honsou films ('Gladiator', 'Blood Diamond', 'Amistad') because he comes out wanting to kill white people. As tongue-in-cheek as he is, watching important films like 'Rabbit-Proof Fence' (complete with its wrenching epilogue) make it hard to disagree. And thanks to such films, we will not forget.