Common Sense Media Review
Powerful historical drama has smoking and kids in peril.
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Rabbit-Proof Fence
What's the Story?
Set in 1931, RABBIT-PROOF FENCE shows the horrific consequences of an Australian policy that forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families—a practice that continued until the 1970s. In this true story, Molly Craig (Everlyn Sampi), her sister Daisy (Tianna Sansbury), and their cousin Gracie (Laura Monaghan) are all "half-castes," what the government calls children of interracial couples. Their White fathers have long since left, and their homes are with their mothers in Jigalong, an area along a rabbit-proof fence that cuts through the middle of Australia. Officials, wanting to "improve" the upbringing of all "half-castes," force the children into an internment camp where they're to be trained as domestic workers and integrated into White society. Once there, Molly's longing for home is so strong that she makes an escape with Daisy and Gracie, following the fence to get back to Jigalong.
Is It Any Good?
Powered by the strong performances of its lead actors, this moving drama demonstrates how courage and fear co-exist as three girls seek to reunite with their mothers. Rabbit-Proof Fence shows the damage caused by the inhumane policy that allowed the Australian government to forcefully take "half-caste" children from their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers, centering a story that inspires and horrifies equally.
While the tale is emotionally charged, it's appropriate for older children to learn about a crucial, if ugly, piece of history that may not be widely known. Viewers can root for the girls' safe return home—the film presents their escape as a kind of adventure—while reflecting on injustice and the importance of taking a stand for human rights.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about true stories and how they're depicted in film. What did you learn about history by watching Rabbit-Proof Fence? Do you believe everything happened in real life as it's shown? How would you fact-check what you've seen?
The girls are in constant danger while they journey back home. How did watching them go through this make you feel? Do emotional stories like this impact you differently depending on their format, such as in a novel, a movie, or a nonfiction book?
How do the girls show love and respect for their culture and traditions? How do they react when they're taken away from their mothers and forced to live elsewhere? How do they challenge the rules imposed on them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 29, 2002
- On DVD or streaming : August 19, 2003
- Cast : David Gulpilil , Jason Clarke , Ningali Lawford
- Director : Phillip Noyce
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Miramax
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : emotional thematic material.
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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