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Rabbit Proof Fence Essay Example

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Rabbit Proof Fence Essay Example
“Rabbit Proof Fence”

When Phillip Noyce took on the task of directing the film ‘Rabbit Proof fence’ his intention was to expose the truth of the ‘Stolen Generation’ which occurred in Australia from 1900 to 1969. Noyce’s purpose for the film was to position his viewers to accept and feel compassion and sympathy for the Australian Aborigines. The film ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ is based on the novel ‘Follow the Rabbit proof Fence’ written by Doris Pilkington Garimara, the daughter of the main character of ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’, Molly Craig. ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ follows the true story of three Aboriginal girls, Molly, Daisy and Gracie who in 1931 were removed from their mothers in Jigalong, Western Australia and sent to the Moore River Native Settlement over 2000 kilometres from their home to be trained as domestic servants. After a short time at Moore River, the three girls escaped fleeing across the ruthless Australian desert with the rabbit-proof fence as their only guide to return home. The Aboriginal people more specifically the Aboriginal women, are represented as powerless, used by white authorities in a range of ways. Noyce’s intention was to position the audience to empathise and feel compassion for these women.

Noyce’s representation of Aboriginal women constructed at the beginning of the film shows the qualities of the Australian Aboriginal women. As the film begins the vast Australian landscape is shown with an aerial shot, this enables to audience to have an understanding of how extensive and harsh the Australian landscape really is. When the audience first experiences Jigalong Station it is made evident that the community is very close and happy. That the younger women and girls have great respect for the Aboriginal Elders, in union with the respect of the youthful, the Elders cherish every member of their community. The first angles shown of the Aboriginal women are from a high angle shot as they are trekking though the Australian bush. The women seem

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