Rabbit-Proof Fence

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

13 mistakes - chronological order

(3 votes)

Continuity mistake: In the scene where the three girls get abducted Daisy is put into the car second. She moves up to the side window and looks out, but when the camera angle changes as Molly gets pushed in she is leaning against Gracie. (00:10:35)

NancyFelix

Factual error: The film is set in Western Australia during the early 1930's. The aboriginal children are being transported to a government mission by train. The scene shows a famous steam locomotive "3801" built for New South Wales Govt. Railways in 1943. This locomotive is now well known in Australia. It made the record breaking trip for steam across the Continent to Western Australia after the trans continental railway was completed in the 1960's. (00:14:10)

Continuity mistake: When the girls sit down for their first breakfast at Moore River a mug appears next to Molly's plate when the camera aims across the table. (00:18:10)

NancyFelix

Revealing mistake: When the three girls are at the camp for children after being removed from their home, they witness a girl being punished. She is having her hair cut off and is put in a tin shed. If one looks carefully, one can tell that the child inside the tin room is actually a boy with a slight mustache. (00:26:35)

Factual error: In the evening check at the dormitory, when the girls are found missing, the nun calls Daisy Kalibil. In real life the 8-year-old Daisy was promised to a man named Kalibil whom she married later, but at that time she was still Daisy Craig. (00:31:20)

NancyFelix

Continuity mistake: At the time of the evening check when the girls are found missing the sky is dark and overcast. Then it cuts to the girls running through the forest and the sun is shining again. Also when Moodoo the tracker discovers their footprints at the outhouse (quite a feat considering the number of girls which have left their tracks around there) the sun is shining. (00:31:20)

NancyFelix

Continuity mistake: When Molly tries to steal eggs she picks up a piece of bread from the ground and puts it into her mouth. When she is caught by the farmer's wife and turns around most of the piece sticks out of her mouth. (00:41:35)

NancyFelix

Continuity mistake: When Molly finds out from a worker that they are following the wrong fence her hair changes completely (almost covering her face) when the man tells them about the shortcut they can take. (00:50:15)

NancyFelix

Continuity mistake: When a policeman drives into the train station compound and goes after Gracie, who is running away, a bicyclist appears next to his car out of nowhere. (01:06:15)

NancyFelix

Continuity mistake: In the scene where Molly and Daisy meet their mother again they run towards each other through a light forest. Then there is a cut against the evening sky where they fall into each others' arms, and it's an open area with no trees nor bushes. (01:18:55)

NancyFelix

Revealing mistake: When the people come to take the girls away, the mothers and girls run, with the camera in front of them. You can see the wheel tracks in the dirt from where it is being towed back.

Deliberate mistake: When the girls are shown at home at the beginning of the film they speak in their native tongue except when they talk to whites. Also at Moore River they get sometimes scolded for using that 'jabber language'. Therefore, it seems wrong that on their walk home they talk to each other only in English. (Though the director admits on the commentary that he felt this would be unrealistic, he decided the audience would connect with the girls if they speak English rather than reading subtitles.)

NancyFelix

Revealing mistake: When Moodoo is tracking the girls, he picks up a branch and examines it. Look at his horse in the background - it's bending over as though looking for food, but it doesn't move an inch, revealing it to be a backdrop.

A.O. Neville: If only they would understand what we are trying to do for them.

More quotes from Rabbit-Proof Fence

Question: At the beginning the tracker is quite determined to catch the girls. Later it seems that he deliberately misses their tracks (out of admiration for their cleverness and courage?), but then again he is seen all by himself trying to follow them. Is there any evidence from the book that he wanted them to make it home?

NancyFelix

Chosen answer: The Tracker didn't actually want to catch the girls, he only had the job so he could stay close to his daughter in Moore River. He has a lot of admiration for Molly's cleverness, how she covers the tracks and so deliberatly misses the tracks to give the girls a chance.

More questions & answers from Rabbit-Proof Fence

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