2002
Directed by Phillip Noyce
I haven't been the biggest fan of Australian cinema, but this film blew me away. Perhaps its not Australian movies I have a problem with, perhaps it's just Peter Weir. According to the Book, the two are interchangeable.
In 1931, two sisters, Molly and Daisy, and their cousin Gracie live in Jigalong. The town lies along Australia's rabbit-proof fence, which runs for several thousand of miles. A.O. Neville, the official Protector of Western Australian Aborigines, sends the girls to a reeducation camp. He plans to have the girls become domestic servants and eventually marry white men, in hopes of breeding out Aborigine blood. The girls decide to escape, using the fence as a guide to get back home.
Amazingly, this film was based on a true story, although there is some doubt about the accuracy about the movie. Some seem to claim that Aborigines were treated better than what was portrayed, others seem to think the film didn't even scratch the surface of what these people went through. In any case, you have to admit that the girls' courage and determination is truly inspiring. Frequent readers may know that I have a sister I would follow to the edge of the earth as well, so I felt this film particularly touching.
So a moving story that is beautifully told.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Everlyn Sampi ran away twice during filming.
The world premiere of this film was held in Jigalong.
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