Belonging is feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion and identity to a member trying to fit into a certain group, place etc. It describes how an individual feels a sense of satisfaction and happiness, uniting many people together as one. The concept of belonging is clearly illustrated in the “Removal Scene” from the “Rabbit-Proof Fence” directed by Phillip Noyce. This scene cleverly demonstrates the perception of belonging through cultural context, connections to place or community/group and experiences and notions of relationships, acceptance and understanding. Noyce uses various effective techniques to portray the sense of belonging throughout the scene.
In the first place, in the removal scene, the composer highlights the actions and reactions of the two cultures experiencing extreme disconnection. This break in the connection to people and place is effectively reflected through a variety of film techniques that reinforce the disconnection between people and their land. The women’s connection to the land accentuated through their position as they lay motionless on the ground, embracing the land to express their grief of being separated from the girls. Although, the disconnection between the girls and the land is seen when they are forcibly removed under the white jurisdiction. The removal is shown through the full shot at the end of the scene revealing the devastating consequences of the white law that the white culture had enforced to get rid of the aboriginal blood. The loss of connection between the girls and their mother heightens their spiritual connection with the land as it ultimately provides the girls with a way home. As the girls are dragged into the car, the glass window acts as a barrier and symbolises a barrier between the two cultures. The contrast between Constable Riggs uniform against the clothes worn by the children