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Rabbit-Proof Fence

(2002, Rated PG, Drama, Starring Jason Clarke, Ningali Lawford, David Gulpilil)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Powerful drama about racism ok for tweens and up.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Children show strong resolve to be with parents against all odds. However, the British believe the Aborigine is an inferior race.

  • Violence:

    Forceful taking of children from their mothers, armed standoff.

  • Sex:

    Obscured reference to a white master forcing himself upon his Aboriginal servant.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Rabbit-Proof Fence

Parents need to know that this is an intense drama depicting three Aboriginal children leaving an Australian internment camp in an attempt to reunite with their families. The scene of the government official taking the children away is intensely emotional, though only moderately violent. During the journey home, the children are hidden by an Aboriginal servant in her bed, and her master is surprised when he goes to sleep with her and finds the children. A confrontation between a British official with a gun and an Aboriginal mother with a spear is tense, but results in no use of force.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about true stories. Do you believe that this movie is 100 percent fact? How would you find out? What do you think of popular movies' ability to tell history? Do you think you get an accurate picture of what happened? Does you care more than if you read about this practice in history book?
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