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Essay on Rabbit Proof Fence

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Rabbit Proof Fence in the context of Australian identity:

In the introductory lecture our attention was focused on a number of core themes which run throughout the course. One such theme was the concept of a nation and the way in which cultural products of the nation shape our sense of identity. Rabbit Proof Fence is an important film to examine within this context as it is the first international film to examine the issue of Australia's Stolen Generation. The film brought the story of the Australian Stolen Generation to a wide audience, both nationally and internationally. Today I am going to consider what kind of impact the film had and also a number of important points concerning the film.

The film is an adaptation of the …show more content…

The film runs through a simple, yet effective plot of abduction, incarceration, escape, pursuit and finally homecoming. The film removes all extraneous material for example the initial journey from Jigalong to the Moore River native settlement is condensed. Therefore it is evident that the film privileges narrative interpretation over historical accuracy.

To what extent do Hollywood narrative conventions override the historical Aboriginal experience which is fore grounded in the book?

The film combines documentary techniques with emotive scenes to encourage a certain response from the audience. The documentary footage acts to encourage the audience to see the film as one of truth and realism. The film is introduced by the living Molly who speaks in dialect and ends with documentary like footage of herself and Daisy walking over the land. These scenes attempt to frame the narrative as one of truth and place the narrative in context.

Moreover, the

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