I think I just figured out a theme in the Kenneth Branagh-helmed movie, Rabbit-Proof Fence; the rabbits were a scourge brought by outsiders against the indigenous flora and fauna, eventually infringing on the ability of many creatures in Australia to thrive.
Likewise, the English colonists became a scourge against the indigenous Aboriginal population, eventually infringing on the ability of thousands of people in Australia to thrive.
The successive generations of colonists are the Rabbits. The movie’s not about the fence, it’s about the English.
I’m an unabashed dilettante, so if I’ve gotten the wrong end of the stick here feel free to hit me w/ it.
The rabbit proof fence was supposed to stop the spread of the pests, but there were already rabbits on both sides when it was completed. No matter how far the native people go to isolate themselves, the English are still there causing harm.
Fantastic movie! A wonderful adventure story, as well as a fascinating cultural history.
Something subtle I liked about that movie - Branagh’s charcter is not portrayed as a monster. In his short scenes he seems to care about his charges, and only wants what he knows is best for them. He, of course, has no clue he’s being a paternalistic manipulative jerk who is treating adults like idiot children, fostering utter dependency among the Aboriginies, all while destroying them as individuals as well as their entire culture. The results of his actions are monsterous, but Branagh did not play him as a mustascio-twirling bad guy.
I did not think of the OP’s idea, but it seems spot-on to me.
For what it’s worth, to call a movie “X-helmed” does not mean that the lead character is played by X. It means that the director is X. So the film is Phillip Noyce-helmed.
Branagh is great in that sort of role – he makes his villains seem human and reasonable (at least, to themselves). He did the same thing in Swing Kids (the only thing worth watching in the movie) playing a Nazi, where he talked about why he joined up* in terms that were believable and even compelling.
I always prefer villains who don’t think they’re villains; that’s how it usually is in real life. No one thinks, “I’m going to be evil”; they think, “I am doing something good.”