Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)

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For the actual fence, see Rabbit-proof fence.
Rabbit-Proof Fence
Directed by Phillip Noyce
Produced by Phillip Noyce
Christine Olsen
John Winter
Written by Doris Pilkington (book)
Christine Olsen
Starring Everlyn Sampi,
Kenneth Branagh
David Gulpilil
Music by Peter Gabriel
Cinematography Christopher Doyle
Editing by Veronika Jenet
John Scott
Distributed by Miramax Films
Release date(s) Flag of Australia 4 February 2002
Flag of the United Kingdom November 8, 2002
Flag of the United States November 29, 2002
Running time 94 mins.
Country Australia
Language English, Martu Wangka
Budget US$6,000,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue US$6,165,429 (USA subtotal)
£1,368,188 (UK subtotal)
AUD 7,510,545 (Australia subtotal)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile
Map of the actual Rabbit proof fence showing the trip from Moore River to Jigalong.
Map of the actual Rabbit proof fence showing the trip from Moore River to Jigalong.

Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film based on the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara. It is a true story concerning the author's mother, and two other young mixed-race Aboriginal girls, who ran away from the Moore River Native Settlement, north of Perth, in order to return to their Aboriginal families, after being placed there in 1931. The film follows the girls as they trek/walk for nine weeks along 1,500 miles (2414km) of the Australian rabbit-proof fence to return to their community at Jigalong while being tracked by a white authority figure and a black tracker.[1]

The soundtrack to the film is called Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Peter Gabriel.

Phillip Noyce's search for the Aboriginal actresses who star in the film is described in detail in the "Making Of" on the DVD.

Contents

[edit] The book

The book, Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence,[2] was written as the second book in a trilogy by Doris Pilkington Garimara, documenting her family's stories.[3] Caprice, a Stockman's Daughter, was the first book published and won the David Unaipon Award as part of the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards in 1990. In 2002, Doris Pilkington Garimara wrote the third book, Under the Wintamarra Tree, about her own life.

The screenplay was published as Rabbit-Proof Fence: the screenplay Adapted from the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Polkington Garimara. Strawberry Hills, N.S.W. : Currency Press, 2002.

[edit] Public reaction and criticism

The film formed a part of a major debate in contemporary Australia over the stolen generations - where Aboriginal children separated from their parents by the State were taken to residential schools. A. O. Neville, who was portrayed in the film, was the Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia at the time and was responsible for removing the girls from their families.

The film stirred debate over the historical accuracy of the claims of the stolen generation. Some, like Andrew Bolt,[4][5] criticised the portrayal of Neville in the film, arguing that he was inaccurately represented as paternalistic and racist.[4] Bolt also questioned the artistic portrayal in the film of the girls as prisoners in prison garb, chased by dogs and state troopers. He claimed that, in fact, they had been dressed in civilian clothes and tracked by concerned adults fearful of their welfare.[4] He also claimed that when Molly Craig, whose journey was being told, saw the film she stated that it was "not my story".

That the story is based on historically true events is not in doubt. The film tells the story from the point of view of the girls and its supporters argue that it is a fair dramatic representation of events as told in the book.[5] It is documented that Molly had a child who was taken away by the authorities.

On the 13th of February 2008, Australian government offered a formal apology to the "stolen generations".

On its release the film was shown around the world and won critical acclaim and was nominated for and won many awards, including those voted on by audiences.

[edit] Film Cast

[edit] Awards and Nominations

[edit] Australian Awards

2001 - Queensland Premier's Literary Awards.[6]: Film Script - the Pacific Film and Television Commission Award (Christine Olsen)[7]
2002 - Australian Film Institute Awards[8]
  • Best Film (Phillip Noyce, Christine Olsen, John Winter)
  • Best Original Music Score (Peter Gabriel)
  • Best Sound (Bronwyn Murphy, Craig Carter, Ricky Edwards, John Penders)
2002 - Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards[9]
  • Best Director (Phillip Noyce)
  • Best Screenplay - Adapted (Christine Olsen)
2002 - Inside Film Awards[10]
2002 - New South Wales Premier's History Awards[11]: shortlisted for the The Premier's Young People's History Prize (Christine Olsen and Phillip Noyce)

[edit] International Awards

2002 (USA) - Aspen Filmfest[12]: Audience Award, Audience Favourite Feature[13] (Phillip Noyce)
2002 (Switzerland) - Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema,[14]
2002 (USA) - The 2002 Starz Encore Denver International Film Festival,[15]: People's Choice Award: Best Feature-Length Fiction Film (Phillip Noyce)
2002 (South Africa) - Durban International Film Festival[16]: Audience Award (Phillip Noyce)
2002 (UK) - Edinburgh International Film Festival[17]: Audience Award (Phillip Noyce)
2002 (UK) - Leeds International Film Festival[18]: Audience Award (Phillip Noyce)
2002 (USA) - National Board of Review Awards 2002[19]
2002 (USA) - San Francisco Film Critics Circle[20]
2002 (Spain) - Valladolid International Film Festival[21]: Audience Award: Feature Film (Phillip Noyce)
2003 (UK) - London Critics Circle Film Awards (ALFS)[22]: Director of the Year (Phillip Noyce, also for The Quiet American (2002))
2003 (Brazil) - São Paulo International Film Festival[23]: Audience Award: Best Foreign Film (Phillip Noyce)

[edit] Award Nominations

2002 (Australia) - Australian Film Institute Nominations[24]
2002 (Australia) - Film Critics Circle of Australia Nominations[9]Australia
2002 (Poland) - Camerimage - 2002 International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography[25]: Golden Frog (Christopher Doyle)
2002 (USA) - Golden Trailer Award Nominations[26]: Golden Trailer: Best Independent
2003 (USA) - Golden Globe Nominations[27]: Golden Globe: Best Original Score - Motion Picture (Peter Gabriel)
2003 (USA) - Motion Picture Sound Editors Nomination[28]: Golden Reel Award: Best Sound Editing in Foreign Features (Juhn Penders, Craig Carter, Steve Burgess, Ricky Edwards, Andrew Plain)
2003 (USA) - Political Film Society Awards[29]
  • Exposé
  • Human Rights
2003 (USA) - Young Artist Awards[30]
  • Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress (Everlyn Sampi)
  • Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actress Age Ten or Under (Tianna Sansbury)

[edit] Classifications and rating

The film is rated PG by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia).[31]

[edit] Film Reviews

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Rabbit-Proof Fence Title Details. National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  2. ^ * Pilkington Garimara, Doris (2001). Follow the rabbit-proof fence. St Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0702232815. 
  3. ^ Brewster, Anne (2007). ""The Stolen Generations: Rites of Passage: Doris Pilkington interviewed by Anne Brewster (22 January 2005)". The Journal of Commonwealth Literature 42 (No 1): 143-159. 
  4. ^ a b c Rabbit-proof myths. bolta@heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  5. ^ a b Australian Journalist Questions ‘Stolen Generation’, by Ian S. McIntosh. European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  6. ^ "Premier's Literary Awards website", June 29, 2007. 
  7. ^ "Queensland Premier's Literary Awards", June 26, June. 
  8. ^ "Australian Film Institute website", June 29, 2007. 
  9. ^ a b "Film Critics Circle of Australia website", June 29, 2007. 
  10. ^ "Lexus Inside Film Awards website", June 29, 2007. 
  11. ^ NSW Premier's History Awards 2002. NSW Ministry for the Arts. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
  12. ^ "Aspen Film website", June 28, 2007. 
  13. ^ "2002 Aspen Film Awards", June 29, 2007. 
  14. ^ "Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema", June 29, 2007. 
  15. ^ "Denver International Film website", June 29, 2007. 
  16. ^ "Durban International Film Festival website", June 29, 2007. 
  17. ^ "Edinburg International Film Festival website", June 29, 2007. 
  18. ^ "Leeds International Film Festival website", June 29, 2007. 
  19. ^ "The National Board of Review, USA website", June 29, 2007. 
  20. ^ "San Francisco Film Critics Circle website", June 29, 2007. 
  21. ^ "Valladolid International Film Festival website", June 29, 2007. 
  22. ^ "The Critics Circle", June 29, 2007. 
  23. ^ "São Paulo International Film Festival website", June 29, 2007. 
  24. ^ "Australian Film Institute website", June 29, 2007. 
  25. ^ "Camerimage website", June 29, 2007. 
  26. ^ "Golden Trailer Awards website", June 29, 2007. 
  27. ^ "Golden Globe Awards website", June 29, 2007. 
  28. ^ "Motion Picture Sound Editor website", June 29, 2007. 
  29. ^ "Political Film Society website", June 29, 2007. 
  30. ^ "Young Artists Award website", June 29, 2007. 
  31. ^ Rabbit-Proof Fence, Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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