Rabbit Proof Fence is set in the 1930’s of Australia, a time where half-castes, those with one Aboriginal parent and one white parent, were being taken thousands of miles away from their families and were entered into what can be seen as indentured servitude. In these camps they were taken to they are then “re-educated” into western ways of society so as to prepare them for serving white families. The movie follows three young girls, Molly, Daisy, and Grace on their long journey back home along the rabbit proof fence.
In the movie, a man by the name of A.O. Neville is the government official responsible for the aborigines issues that were taking place in 1931 Australia. He believed that what he was doing to these children was actually saving them from themselves. It is under his power that Molly, Daisy, and Grace are stripped from their family and are taken to become more “civilized.” Molly, being the oldest, decides she is going to escape with both Grace and Daisy and walk the entire journey back home along the rabbit proof fence. Throughout their journey we see the trials and tribulations they suffer as they trek the thousands of miles home.
As their nine-week long journey begins, Molly knows to use the rabbit fence that runs adjacent to their home in Jigalong to navigate their way back home. Adversity strikes when Neville realizes they have escaped and he is determined to not let these girls undermine his authority or the devised plan of the state. Moodoo, an experienced Aborigines tracker, is given the duty of finding the girls and bringing them back to their gulag. Evading him many times, the girls seek aid from strangers along their time of travel. Later, Grace breaks off from the group in hopes to meet her mother in a local town by train. Little does she know that it was Neville’s scheme to intercept her journey and recapture her as Molly and Daisy helplessly watch her be taken away.