Rabbit-Proof Fence

This study guide will help you analyze the film Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) directed by Phillip Noyce. You can also find a summary of the film, as well as inspiration for interpreting it and putting it into perspective.

Presentation of the text

Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
Director: Phillip Noyce
Genre: Film

Phillip Noyce (b. 1950) is an Australian film director and screenwriter. Noyce gained international recognition for his work in the film industry, particularly in the thriller and action genres. Some of his notable directorial works include Dead Calm (1989) starring Nicole Kidman, Patriot Games (1992) starring Harrison Ford, The Bone Collector (1999) starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie, and the 2014 film adaptation of the young-adult novel The Giver by Lois Lowry.

Noyce’s film Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) is based on the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara which is inspired from the true story of three Aboriginal Australian girls forcibly taken from their families. The film sheds light on the harsh treatment and oppression experienced by Aboriginal people in the 1930s.

Noyce’s work often combines suspenseful storytelling with political themes and social commentary. He has received several accolades throughout his career, including nominations for BAFTA Awards and Australian Film Institute Awards.

Excerpt from the study guide:

Family and community

The theme of family and community plays a significant role in the film Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) directed by Phillip Noyce, highlighting the importance of these bonds in the lives of the Aboriginal characters.

The film explores the deep connection to family and the devastating impact of separation on the Aboriginal community. The forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families was a traumatic historical reality in Australia, known as the ...