Equally, australian film classics book rabbitproof fence, written by 2011 nsw australian of the year larissa bernhardt, is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in. Molly eventually heads for the rabbitproof fence that bisects australia north to south and is designed to keep rabbits out of farming land. Follow the rabbitproof fence is an australian book by doris pilkington. One woman of the mardu once gave a white supervisor of the rabbit proof fence what he wanted, and the two produced a mixed race child. Although the term aborigine is used in this film, the terms indigenous or aboriginal are now more acceptable. Everyone white and native looked upon these children as others. Although rabbitproof fence depicted a successful escape made by molly and her sister from moore river settlement, the realities of removing indigenous children from their families had a traumatic experience. This powerful indictment of the treatment of mixed race children from indigenous australian communities is widely studied by film students in australia and the uk. Feb 12, 2015 this powerful indictment of the treatment of mixed race children from indigenous australian communities is widely studied by film students in australia and the uk.
The movie rabbit proof fence and the book the stolen children. The fence cut through the country from south to north. Coursing through this aboriginal community is a rabbitproof fence. Rabbitproof fence 2002 published on july, 2015 july 29, 2015 by emilychandler plot summary. Rabbitproof fence is a 2002 australian drama film directed by phillip noyce based on the book follow the rabbitproof fence by doris pilkington garimara. Rabbitproof fence is a 2002 australian drama directed by phillip noyce film based on the book follow the rabbitproof fence by doris pilkington garimara. Chapter one provides historical background on the main. Originally, two white men are the only staff members. The first several chapters is leadup to the escape of three girls from a settlement school which, by law, they were forced to attend. They knew that once they reached billanooka station, it was simply a matter of following the rabbitproof fence to their final destination, the jigalong government depot. Phillip noyces film, which is based on the book follow the rabbit proof fence by doris pilkington garimara, the daughter of the eldest runaway, molly, is a beautifully crafted look at one of the darkest episodes in australias blackwhite relations and is set to. In one poetic and poignant moment, the children hold on to the fence and telepathically commune. Introduction rabbitproof fence, an australian drama based on garimaras book, follow the rabbitproof fence, is a 2002 movie directed by phillip noyce, which depicts a true story of the authors mother who was forced by protector of aboriginals and the law to leave her own family when she was 14, in order to be grown up and educated in a.
Built to keep the countrys rabbits on one side and its pasture land on the other. For many white australians, it was the first direct emotional experience of what it meant to be a stolen child. Dec 25, 2002 the most astonishing words in rabbitproof fence come right at the end, printed on the screen as a historical footnote. Free essays from bartleby follow the rabbit proof fence, remembering babylon. Rabbit proof fence is the story of their incredible 2400kilometre trek home. As larissa behrendt notes in her book on the film, this is the film that. Follow the rabbitproof fence is an australian book by doris pilkington, published in 1996. This study guide consists of approximately 25 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of rabbit proof fence. Rabbit proof fence is a contemporary drama about the struggle of three aboriginal girls from western australia. He then criticised australians for losing their humanity. Feb 22, 2018 all of us in australia are familiar with the story of the rabbit proof fence the remarkable true story of three young aboriginal girls who crossed the harsh australian desert on foot to return. Texts explore themes of human experience and cultural significance, interpersonal relationships, and ethical and. Before watching the film these activities, which students may complete before seeing the film, provide an historical context for students to understand the.
Despite the loss, sorrow, racism, and dispossession which mark doris pilkington s family history, a strong and resilient sense of collective identity is ultimately what spurred molly, daisy, and gracie to escape captivity and undertake the long and dangerous journey homeward. Rabbitproof fence is more than a significant film in the history of australian cinema. It concerns the authors mother, and two other young mixedrace aboriginal girls, who ran away from the moore river native settlement, north of perth, in order to return to their aboriginal. All of us in australia are familiar with the story of the rabbitproof fence the remarkable true story of three young aboriginal girls who crossed the harsh australian desert on foot to return. Rabbitproof fence and its connections to australian history. In western australia, 1931, children with mixed aboriginal and white ancestry are forcibly removed from their families and incarcerated at the moore river native settlement, to be trained as servants for white people. Rabbitproof fence tells an important story about a controversial time in australian history.
Chapter 9 wrecks any illusion readers might have about the success of molly s mission. They knew that once they reached billanooka station, it was simply a matter of following the rabbit proof fence to their final destination, the jigalong government depot. Our teacher edition on follow the rabbitproof fence can help. Doris pilkington garimara tells the story of her mother in follow the rabbitproof fence. Throughout the book, the author makes it clear that the british perpetrate injustice on the native populations, and the natives inevitably give inpartly because the british have superior. Thousands hundreds of halfcaste children brought here to be given benefits of our culture. Before watching the film these activities, which students may complete before seeing the film, provide an. Discuss the symbolism and motifs in the rabbit proof fence. Built to keep the countrys rabbits on one side and its pasture land on the other, it spans the entire length of australia from. It is loosely based on a true story about the authors mother, molly, who was a part of the stolen generations. The heart of the story of rabbit proof fence is the escape of three young girls from a settlement that they.
Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in follow the rabbitproof fence, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Set in 1931, rabbitproof fence brings to the screen the horrific consequences of a british policy that removed australian children who were of mixed whiteaboriginal background from their homes a practice that continued until the 1970s. Based on a true story, the book is a personal account of an indigenous australian familys experiences as members of the stolen generation the forced removal of mixedrace children from their families during the early 20th. Stolen generations rabbit proof fence teach indigenous. Follow the rabbitproof fence chapter 5 summary course hero. Despite this, they have shown both resilience and determination. Rabbit proof fence is a film set in western australia about the removal of three girls from their families to a mission school at moore river native settlement. Discuss the symbolism and motifs in the rabbit proof. It is loosely based on a true story concerning the authors mother molly, as well as two other mixedrace aboriginal girls, daisy kadibil and gracie, who escape from the moore river native settlement, north of perth, western. Nov 29, 2002 coursing through this aboriginal community is a rabbit proof fence. Follow the rabbitproof fence themes from litcharts the creators.
Rabbitproof fence page 2 au curriculum connections history. The heart of the story of rabbitproof fence is the escape of three young girls from a settlement that they. Follow the rabbitproof fence powerfully reminds us that there are stories that we must always tell of our history, of aboriginal dispossession and racial oppression, of the strength and resistance of aboriginal children and families. It was a typical response by the white people to a problem of their own making. Racism and colonialism english settlers claimed australia as a british colony in the late 1700s, marking the beginning of a long and insidious process of displacement and extermination for australias. One such theme was the concept of a nation and the way in which cultural products of the nation shape our sense of identity. Rabbitproof fence is a 2002 australian drama film directed and produced by phillip noyce based on the book follow the rabbitproof fence by doris pilkington garimara. The government considered these children a step above full blooded. Rabbit proof fence is a powerful film based on the true story and experiences of three young. After rabbitproof fence won best picture in 2002, noyce used his acceptance speech to criticise the federal government for not apologising for its policy of removing mixed race children from their communities from the 1900 to 1970.
It is based on the book of the true story, follow the rabbitproof fence, written by doris pilkington, the daughter of molly, one of three girls who have a central role in the film. For those who were residential school survivors, they had formed a legacy of alcohol and drug abuse problems, feelings of hopelessness. The follow the rabbitproof fence community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical. Generations, rabbitproof fence explores themes such as aboriginal spirituality, relationships with the land, family bonds, courage, determination and faith. The policies depicted in the movie were enforced by the australian government, we are told, until 1970. The follow the rabbitproof fence community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. As she reproduces missives sent between members of the australian government, and imagines interactions between government officials and the halfcaste children they were tasked with capturing, however, this line sometimes becomes blurry. Follow the rabbitproof fence 1996 is the story of three young aboriginal girls, sisters molly and daisy and their cousin gracie, taken from their parents by government authorities in 1931, to live far from their home at the harsh moore river native settlement. The most astonishing words in rabbitproof fence come right at the end, printed on the screen as a historical footnote. This study guide consists of approximately 25 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of rabbitproof fence. Written originally by doris pilkington garimara, it was adapted as a film under the title rabbitproof. Equally, australian film classics book rabbitproof fence, written by 2011 nsw australian of the year larissa bernhardt, is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in delving beneath the. Noyces film is based on the book follow the rabbitproof fence by the late doris pilkington nugi garimara, which tells the story of her mother, molly. Major themes in doris pilkingtons follow the rabbitproof fence.
Though jigalong is whiteowned, it provides food, clothing, tobacco, and blankets to. A discussion of important themes running throughout rabbitproof fence. Much of this book reads like one long struggle between australias indigenous. From the scene depicting molly, gracie and daisys journey back home, the audience observes the struggle they face as they travel 1500 miles through unfamiliar territory to return to their land, their homes and families. Dec 28, 2019 equally, australian film classics book rabbitproof fence, written by 2011 nsw australian of the year larissa bernhardt, is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in delving beneath the. Reading follow the rabbitproof fence aboriginal child. Comprehension and discussion activities for the movie.
The aboriginal people of australia have endured great suffering since white settle began in 1788. She tells her own story in under the wintamarra tree 2003, of her premature birth, under the tree of the book s title on balfour downs station, a pastoral lease and cattle station located about 2 kilometres northeast of newman in western australias pilbara region. Set in 1931, the film describes the experience of three halfcaste girls, molly, gracie and daisy, who are forcibly removed from their family and community in jigalong and taken to the moore. It is loosely based on a true story concerning the authors mother molly, as well as two other mixedrace aboriginal girls, daisy kadibil and grace, who ran away from the moore river native settlement, north of perth, western australia, to. The rabbitproof fence is separated into nine chapters.
The council for aboriginal reconciliation argues that the truth about past experiences must be spoken about and acknowledged by all australians before reconciliation can occur. Fence as a very good film, noted that it looked at the children, rather. The follow the rabbit proof fence community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Aboriginal children of mixed race were taken by force from their mothers and raised in training schools that would prepare them for lives as factory workers or domestic. Based on a true story, the film is set in 1931, in the outback of australia where molly craig 14, her younger sister daisy craig 8, and their cousin gracie 10 try to return to their homeland after they have been forcefully taken to a relocation camp by the government. Rabbit proof fence moodoo should have helped the girls. The girls decided to escape and walk home, following the rabbitproof fence. How does the film rabbit proof fence and the picture book the rabbits, by phillip noyce and john marsden respectively, position a responder to feel sympathetic for the aboriginal people in the film and book. The rabbit proof fence by philip noyce 1665 words 7 pages.
Government officials took note of the growing number of aboriginal children who were being fathered by white englishmen. The use of symbolism and motifs such as the spirit bird, the rabbit proof fence and the umbilical cord together with film techniques and music illustrates the strong sense of community, hope, freedom and belonging and helps draw the audience into the film through the sense of vulnerability of the girls. One such film is rabbitproof fence, directed by phillip noyce and based on the nonfiction book follow the rabbitproof fence by doris pilkington garimara. The film on the other hand, the rabbit proof fence trpf, released in 2002 and directed by phillip noyce, is the suspenseful story of three young girls, molly, gracie, and daisy who were torn from their home to be forced to train as domestic servants. This film tells the story of three halfcaste aboriginal children who were taken. Follow the rabbitproof fence does not end on an optimistic note.
Comprehension and discussion activities for the movie abbit. Rabbit proof fence is more than a significant film in the history of australian cinema. Along the rabbitproof fence the incredible journey. In one poetic and poignant moment, the children hold on to the fence and telepathically commune with their mother and grandmother.
Perhaps even more importantly, this is a story of hope, commitment and resolve. The rabbit proof fence analysis 1052 words 5 pages. In rabbit proof fence directed by phillip noyce, the main themes in the film are the loss of a home and family and the strong bond with family. Rabbit proof fence in the context of australian identity. Throughout the pages of follow the rabbitproof fence, doris pilkington examines the line between altruism and cruelty. Children were taken from their homes whole communities were shifted. Rabbitproof fence will acquaint children with a shameful chapter of australian history and invite comparisons to the experiences of other countries, including the united states. When molly was 14, gracie 10 and daisy 8, the australian government took them from their home to train them as servants for the white settlers. In the introductory lecture our attention was focused on a number of core themes which run throughout the course.
Based on the book follow the rabbit proof fence 1996 removal of halfcaste aboriginal children molly craig, daisy burungu, and gracie fields forcibly taken away from their mother moore river native settlement escape the mission and follow the rabbit proof fence themes. Rabbitproof fence was warmly received by both audiences and critics. Rabbitproof fence is a 2002 australian film based on the book, follow the rabbitproof fence by doris pilkington garimara. Aboriginal children of mixed race were taken by force from their mothers and raised in training schools that would prepare them for lives as factory workers or. Along the rabbitproof fence the incredible journey youtube. For example, the australian policies bore a striking resemblance to the treatment of native american children by the u. Based on a true story, the book is a personal account of an indigenous australian familys experiences as members of the stolen generation the forced removal of mixedrace children from their families during the early 20th century. It is proposed that moodoo should have helped the girls return to jigalong in 1931, with the aborigine act in australia, the chief protector of aborigines in the state of western australia, a. Despite the loss, sorrow, racism, and dispossession which mark doris pilkingtons family history, a strong and resilient sense of collective identity is ultimately what spurred molly, daisy, and. Rabbit proof fence atom study guide by clickview issuu. The first part of this chapter describes the early history of jigalong, which serves as the base for the rabbitproof fence. Follow the rabbitproof fence themes from litcharts the.