The Escape and Journey Home

In "Long Walk Home", also known as "Rabbit-Proof Fence", the Handlung takes a dramatic turn when the girls decide to escape from Moore River Native Settlement.

The escape is carefully planned and executed:

• The girls slip away during a church service
• They use the rabbit-proof fence as a guide to navigate back home
• Clever tactics are employed to evade capture, such as waiting for rain to hide their footprints and creating false trails

Example: The girls hide in a river and lay false trails to confuse their pursuers, demonstrating their resourcefulness and determination.

As news of their escape spreads, A.O. Neville, the Chief Protector of Aborigines, attempts to keep it out of the papers. Meanwhile, Moodoo, an Aboriginal tracker, and the police are sent to find the girls.

The journey is fraught with challenges:

• They initially follow the wrong fence but are redirected by helpful strangers
• Gracie is tricked by a man who tells her that her mother is waiting at a different train station
• Molly and Daisy turn back to help Gracie but are unable to prevent her capture

Quote: When Molly and Daisy wake up in the desert where the fence has disappeared, Molly sees an eagle and says, "Home," reconnecting with their spiritual guidance.

After nine weeks of grueling travel, Molly and Daisy finally reach Jigalong. The emotional reunion with their mother is powerfully depicted, with Molly saying, "I lost one," referring to Gracie.

Highlight: Throughout their journey, the women of their community sang and prayed, maintaining a spiritual connection that gave the girls hope and guidance.

The film concludes by providing information about the future of the characters:

• Molly and Daisy eventually marry and have children
• Molly returns to Jigalong with her daughters
• Gracie, sadly, never makes it back home and dies later

"Long Walk Home" powerfully illustrates the resilience of the human spirit and the deep bonds of family and culture that sustained these girls on their incredible journey. The film serves as a poignant reminder of a dark chapter in Australian history and the ongoing impact of the Stolen Generations policy.

Family Background and Removal

The film Long Walk Home introduces us to the main characters and their family situation in Jigalong, Western Australia.

Molly and Daisy are sisters, with Gracie as their cousin. They live with their mother and grandmother in the bush, part of a close-knit Aboriginal community. The girls' fathers are white men who have moved on. The family is known for their hunting skills and deep connection to the land.

Highlight: Molly's mother tells her that the spirit bird will always look after her, emphasizing the importance of their spiritual beliefs.

The girls' lives are abruptly changed when they are forcibly removed from their home by Constable Riggs. They are taken on a long journey by car and train to the Moore River Native Settlement, approximately 1,500-2,000 miles away from Jigalong.

Definition: The Moore River Native Settlement was established to train Aboriginal children for domestic and agricultural work, with the ultimate goal of assimilation into white society.

The settlement's purpose is deeply rooted in racist policies:

• Children are separated based on skin color, with lighter-skinned children considered more intelligent
• Girls are trained for housework, while boys are prepared for field labor
• The ultimate aim is to have these children marry white people, effectively "breeding out" Aboriginal traits

Vocabulary: "Mixed blood children" refers to children of Aboriginal and white parentage, who were particularly targeted by these policies.

The conditions at Moore River are strict and oppressive. Children face numerous rules and are constantly supervised by police. The film portrays the emotional trauma and cultural disconnection experienced by these children, highlighting the devastating impact of the "Stolen Generations" policy.