Rabbit-Proof Fence
2/4
Starring: Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, David Gulpilil, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Clarke
Rated PG for Emotional Thematic Elements
There are few doubts in anyone's mind that the Stolen Generation is a black stain on Australia's history. This policy, which lasted from the 1910's to, unbelievably, the 1970's, allowed the government to forcibly take "mixed-caste" children (who had one parent of an indigenous race) from their families and "integrate" them to European society. Estimates place between one in ten and one in three children were subjected to this, and the effects are still being felt to this day.
Clearly, this story needed to be told. However shameful or painful this mark on the history of the land down under is, we must not forget it. But as a snapshot of history, or even conventional filmmaking, "Rabbit-Proof Fence" comes up short...and by quite a bit. What should have been a powerful and harrowing experience left me almost completely unmoved.
Molly Craig (Sampi), her younger sister Daisy (Sansbury) and their cousin Gracie (Monaghan) are "half-caste" children. When A.O. Neville (Branagh), the sole "legal advocate" of the Aboriginal people, orders them removed and sent to Moore River Native Settlement. There, the three promptly escape and set out on the 1800 mile trek back home. Meanwhile, Neville is sparing no expense to find them.
This story would seem like great cinema, except that it isn't. That's because, in truth, not much happens in it. Half the movie is spent watching the girls walk along the fence that divides the country to get home. The other half is watching Neville plan how he will capture them. It's just not strong enough to sustain a feature film.
The acting is solid, which is impressive considering that calling any of the characters two-dimensional would be a stretch. The actresses who play the young girls are all effective, showing little in the way of discomfort when being in front of the camera (although Sampi ran away from the set twice and was found both times trying to buy a train ticket home). Kenneth Branagh does something interesting with his character. He portrays Neville as misguided, but not evil. Neville isn't a mustache-twirling sadist. He really believes that he's doing the right thing for the girls. But as they say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
"Rabbit-Proof Fence" was directed by Phillip Noyce, an Australian director whose track record is inconsistent. He did directed some good movies, like "The Bone Collector," "Dead Calm," and "The Quiet American." But he did "The Saint" with Val Kilmer, which is all that really needs to be said. Unfortunately with this movie, his work leans more towards the latter than the former. Usually it's on solid ground, but his POV shots and attempts at getting inside Molly's head come across as clunky and pretentious. Actually, any time he gets artsy, it fails.
I honestly feel bad about giving this movie a negative review. The subject matter is so important and it's a story the world needs to know. But the film just doesn't live up to its potential.
Starring: Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, David Gulpilil, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Clarke
Rated PG for Emotional Thematic Elements
There are few doubts in anyone's mind that the Stolen Generation is a black stain on Australia's history. This policy, which lasted from the 1910's to, unbelievably, the 1970's, allowed the government to forcibly take "mixed-caste" children (who had one parent of an indigenous race) from their families and "integrate" them to European society. Estimates place between one in ten and one in three children were subjected to this, and the effects are still being felt to this day.
Clearly, this story needed to be told. However shameful or painful this mark on the history of the land down under is, we must not forget it. But as a snapshot of history, or even conventional filmmaking, "Rabbit-Proof Fence" comes up short...and by quite a bit. What should have been a powerful and harrowing experience left me almost completely unmoved.
Molly Craig (Sampi), her younger sister Daisy (Sansbury) and their cousin Gracie (Monaghan) are "half-caste" children. When A.O. Neville (Branagh), the sole "legal advocate" of the Aboriginal people, orders them removed and sent to Moore River Native Settlement. There, the three promptly escape and set out on the 1800 mile trek back home. Meanwhile, Neville is sparing no expense to find them.
This story would seem like great cinema, except that it isn't. That's because, in truth, not much happens in it. Half the movie is spent watching the girls walk along the fence that divides the country to get home. The other half is watching Neville plan how he will capture them. It's just not strong enough to sustain a feature film.
The acting is solid, which is impressive considering that calling any of the characters two-dimensional would be a stretch. The actresses who play the young girls are all effective, showing little in the way of discomfort when being in front of the camera (although Sampi ran away from the set twice and was found both times trying to buy a train ticket home). Kenneth Branagh does something interesting with his character. He portrays Neville as misguided, but not evil. Neville isn't a mustache-twirling sadist. He really believes that he's doing the right thing for the girls. But as they say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
"Rabbit-Proof Fence" was directed by Phillip Noyce, an Australian director whose track record is inconsistent. He did directed some good movies, like "The Bone Collector," "Dead Calm," and "The Quiet American." But he did "The Saint" with Val Kilmer, which is all that really needs to be said. Unfortunately with this movie, his work leans more towards the latter than the former. Usually it's on solid ground, but his POV shots and attempts at getting inside Molly's head come across as clunky and pretentious. Actually, any time he gets artsy, it fails.
I honestly feel bad about giving this movie a negative review. The subject matter is so important and it's a story the world needs to know. But the film just doesn't live up to its potential.
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