The three lead girls are very good in the film (great work from the children's acting coach Rachael Maza!) and there is strong backup from others like Ningali Lawford. Some scenes are very emotional and will certainly move many members of the audience. It's disgusting to know the mixed-race Aboriginal children continued to be removed from their families until only about 30 years ago.
I suppose there is potential for this film to be quite important given the debate in recent over the Stolen Generation (with some, including the Prime Minister, questioning whether it could be called a "generation" and whether they were "stolen" or just "removed"). The film doesn't demonise the white people who take the kids away, not even the Chief Protector of Aborigines, A.O. Neville, played by Kenneth Branagh; he is shown as someone who honestly believes he is "protecting the Aboriginal from himself". It's interesting they decided to portray him this way.
The scenes where Mr Neville gives a slide show on how the "half-caste" can be "simply bred out" are very disturbing - I just thought, how can someone say these things? And the women just watch on attentively.
It seems miraculous that Molly and Daisy are still alive. The courage they showed to get home was really something extraordinary.
The film is very good, but there seemed to be something missing. Can't put my finger on it though, so it musn't have been that important.
I suppose there is potential for this film to be quite important given the debate in recent over the Stolen Generation (with some, including the Prime Minister, questioning whether it could be called a "generation" and whether they were "stolen" or just "removed"). The film doesn't demonise the white people who take the kids away, not even the Chief Protector of Aborigines, A.O. Neville, played by Kenneth Branagh; he is shown as someone who honestly believes he is "protecting the Aboriginal from himself". It's interesting they decided to portray him this way.
The scenes where Mr Neville gives a slide show on how the "half-caste" can be "simply bred out" are very disturbing - I just thought, how can someone say these things? And the women just watch on attentively.
It seems miraculous that Molly and Daisy are still alive. The courage they showed to get home was really something extraordinary.
The film is very good, but there seemed to be something missing. Can't put my finger on it though, so it musn't have been that important.