Film Analysis 3: Rabbit-Proof Fence

 The premise of Rabbit-Proof Fence is similar to so many children’s stories—a child is separated from their parents and must return home. Peter Pan, The Little Princess, and in ways even Harry Potter follows this trajectory—but Rabbit-Proof Fence very quickly leaves familiarity for white, western children. The realities of the story are harsh and told with a sad sense of honesty that is unique among so many stories focused on children. While the political diversity of this story is painfully clear—Molly and her sisters, as mixed-race children, are property of the government and so horridly treated—the cultural diversity of the story is what really makes it interesting. The language, sound, pacing, and narrative arc all give insight into the aboriginal culture that Molly is torn from.

            First, the use of language in the story is very different than the use of language in many western films. At the beginning, when Molly is narrating the story, her use of language is rich as she speaks in her native tongue. The language is beautiful and the characters are chatty and pleasant, and so the audience gets to hear a lot of it. However, when Molly and her sisters are taken away from their mother the film hardly uses any dialogue from that point forward. When the girls try to speak their language at the camp, they are swiftly punished. For the remainder of the film, they speak English—but only when necessary. Language ceases to become a narrative tool once the girls cannot use their native tongue.

            The sound of the film is very unique and becomes more narratively important than the language. When the daughters are taken from their mothers the audience is left with the mothers for a long time, listening to the sound of their grieving wails. These wails blend into the sound of the soundtrack. The soundtrack features aboriginal instruments such as drums and didgeridoo and incorporates electronic sounds to echo the cries and wails of the daughters and their mothers.  The other sounds in the films make the setting come alive—bird calls, the sound of walking on rocks and dirt, the wind, and the water are all louder than normal to take the place of the lack of dialogue.

            Lastly, the pacing and narrative arc of the story comes out of the culture of the people. As said before, dialogue does not drive the story at all. The goal is clear and pursued with a diligence and lack of play that is uncharacteristic for children. The pacing is much like their walking—patient, but constantly aware of danger lurking. Additionally, none of what these children achieve could be done by many others. Molly’s ability to live off the land and her knowledge of tracking are the few things that keep these girls safe. Perhaps the most harrowing part of the story, however, is that there is no happy ending. While Molly and her sister get back to their mother and grandmother, it is tinged with the sadness of the girl they lost along the way. On top of that, we soon learn that Molly was later taken back to the camp, and that her daughters were taken from her as well. This little slice of heritage is indicative of a larger problem, and does not wrap itself up in the comfortable way many children are used to.

            Overall, the story of Rabbit-Proof Fence gives insight into the culture and heritage of the aboriginal people in Australia. Though it can be painful to watch, the fact that this story is so different both narratively and aesthetically makes the audience more aware and more sympathetic of the political difficulties portrayed in the film.