Rabbit Proof Fence
Jul. 22nd, 2003 01:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
orangerfulWhat a beautiful movie. Fascinating bit of Australian history, and at the same time, I can see so much of American history that runs parallel to the story.
Starting in the 1930s, they Australian government decided to "claim" half-caste (part white) Aboriginal children and take them off to camps where they could be turned Anglo. The film is based on a true story of 3 girls taken away from their mothers in the 1930s and taken to a camp 1200 miles away. They escape the camp and elude the tracker (or do they?) and walk all the way across the Australian desert back to their home. The scary thing is - this act of removing the "half castes" actually went on until the 1970s. 1970s!!! Australian history has just begun to aknowledge the psychological damage this has done to the "Stolen Generation". The identity crisis it created among this group of people.
The three young girls were amazing actors. The film hardly has any dialogue. Most of the speaking is done by the Australians, while the Aboriginies do most of their communicating with eyes and hand movements. It's just beautiful to watch. The "star" is mesmerizing, her face is so young yet so old at the same time.
Yes, watch it if you get the chance. It's only 98 minutes long (the best length for a movie). If you rent the dvd, you should also watch the documentary on making the film, it just ads a whole new perspective on things.
After that rent "Smoke Signals", a lighter story about modern day Native Americans. It's not really a comedy, but it's not quite a drama. Its sorta like following two friends around with a camera. Plus you'll walk around for a week going "hey victor!" Believe me.
Bedtime. Adrian will be here tomorrow! YAY!
Starting in the 1930s, they Australian government decided to "claim" half-caste (part white) Aboriginal children and take them off to camps where they could be turned Anglo. The film is based on a true story of 3 girls taken away from their mothers in the 1930s and taken to a camp 1200 miles away. They escape the camp and elude the tracker (or do they?) and walk all the way across the Australian desert back to their home. The scary thing is - this act of removing the "half castes" actually went on until the 1970s. 1970s!!! Australian history has just begun to aknowledge the psychological damage this has done to the "Stolen Generation". The identity crisis it created among this group of people.
The three young girls were amazing actors. The film hardly has any dialogue. Most of the speaking is done by the Australians, while the Aboriginies do most of their communicating with eyes and hand movements. It's just beautiful to watch. The "star" is mesmerizing, her face is so young yet so old at the same time.
Yes, watch it if you get the chance. It's only 98 minutes long (the best length for a movie). If you rent the dvd, you should also watch the documentary on making the film, it just ads a whole new perspective on things.
After that rent "Smoke Signals", a lighter story about modern day Native Americans. It's not really a comedy, but it's not quite a drama. Its sorta like following two friends around with a camera. Plus you'll walk around for a week going "hey victor!" Believe me.
Bedtime. Adrian will be here tomorrow! YAY!