Journeys-_Comparison_of_Lotr_Rabit_Proof_Fence

The composer Phillip Noyce, the director of the film Rabbit Proof fence and J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the novel Lord of the rings, both explore the concept of the physical and inner journey. A journey can be viewed as an adventure of experience by the individual. Where a series of obstacles and challenges help to respond to these challenges and learn more about themselves and the world around them. Rabbit proof fence is a film based on life experiences which centre Molly Craig her younger sister Daisy and Cousin Gracie. It is set in the 1930’s and is based in Western Australia. It tells of a story about the removal of half-caste children and placing them in the Moore River Native settlement several thousands of kilometres and the journey back to Jigalong. It is a portrayal of courage and determination demonstrated by many characters in the film. It is a tale of how aspects of family and home are considered important and valued. Finally it is a story about ones survival in the desert landscape. A text similar to this is Lord of the rings which is a fantasy novel. It focuses on a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins on his quest to save middle earth from turmoil by destroying a powerful corrupt ring by going to the evil Land of Mordor. He is accompanied by his loyal companion named Samwise Gamgee (Sam).The various languages and film techniques shown in both texts equally demonstrated how via the themes contained within these texts illustrate the concept of the physical and inner journey. Courage is the ability to control fear when facing anger or pain. Determination is the firmness of purpose. Courage is displayed in the film when Molly Craig escapes the Moore River Native Settlement. This relates to the idea of journey as a physical Journey. The physicality of this is how she escapes walking by foot and covering her tracks from the tracker Moodo. Courage is also depicted by Frodo Baggins when he claimed to destroy the ring among the whole community. This relates to journey as both a physical journey which is fighting evil creatures and emotional journey where he has to summon the courage to finish the journey. Determination is also displayed in the film by A.O. Neville the chief protector of Aborigines who plots to capture the three girls. The idea of journey portrayed here is both emotional and physical. He thinks that the capture of half caste children benefits their own good but this only separates the children from their family both emotionally and physically. The Techniques which amplify the magnitude of the scenes are the suspenseful mystic music and variations of different angles shots which show superiority and inferiority. One example of this is how A.O. Neville looks down upon the Aboriginals and the mystic music only plays when something goes wrong, like the capture of Gracie. Determination is illustrated through Samwise Gamgee in the text when Frodo was struggling to climb Mount Doom. Sam carried Frodo on his back up the entire mountain. This is both a physical and inner Journey. Physically Sam carried Frodo up the mountain when Frodo was injured and emotionally because Frodo is his best friend and when Frodo was vulnerable Sam gave him comfort and aid. A family is all those persons considered as descendents of a common progenitor. A home is the place or region where something is native and most common. The concept of Family which is portrayed in the film is when Maude (Molly’s mother) holds on to Molly and Daisy. This relates to Journey as an inner journey of emotional closeness of Molly, Daisy and Maude. Family was also illustrated in Lord of the rings through Frodo Baggins. Frodo was close to his uncle Bilbo who brought him up after his parent’s death. When Frodo left on his perilous journey he had to leave his uncle behind. This type of journey is an emotional journey which separated him from the closest relative he had alive. Home is shown in the film when Molly, Daisy and Gracie were captured by Constable Riggs. This relates to inner journey and physical journey. The physical journey is when they are taken to the Moore River Native Settlement which is1500 miles away from their home Jigalong. The emotional Journey is the separation from their home land which all Aboriginals view as imperative. The visual techniques which are captured in the film are panning which is the horizontal movement of the camera to give a better insight of the environment. Panning was used to emphasise home in this film which is Jigalong. Memorable quotes were also used in the text of Lord of the rings to add the emotional effect. The quote was “it’s a dangerous business going out your front door” this was said between Frodo and Bilbo. Home was exemplified in the text Lord of the rings when Frodo who has never left his home goes on the long, arduous journey to Mordor to destroy the corrupt ring. This is an inner journey of self discovery and new experiences which Frodo never faced back in the shire, such as vile creatures and mysterious lands. Molly has experienced tremendous adversities on her trip from the Moore River Native settlement which she had to cross a vast desert landscape to reach Jigalong and reunite with her mother Maude. One of the adversities which she faced was the inner struggle to complete her journey, which she collapsed in the desert. This relates to journey as a physical and emotional journey. They physicality is the crossing of the desert. The emotional part was how she questioned herself if she could finish the journey and how she spotted the eagle in the horizon. The eagle gave her inspiration and inner strength to complete her journey. The techniques which are pertained during this scene are the aerial video footage which gives more emphasis for the surroundings of the barren desert landscape. In the related text Lord of the rings Frodo is faced with crossing the harsh Land of Mordor and reaching Mount Doom to destroy the ring. This is a physical and inner journey. The physicality is he was faced with the privation of climbing Mount Doom, which was tremendous height and he injured himself. The emotional part was when he was struggling and gave up because of his injury but he found the inner strength when his loyal companion Sam lent him aid which he finally destroyed the ring. Rabbit proof fence and Lord of the rings demonstrates both physical and inner journeys. This ranges from the severe conditions of which Molly Craig and Frodo Baggins face. The harsh barren landscape, isolation from family and home, and the summoning of inner strength to complete the journey. The language and film techniques to illustrate physical and inner journey were panning, memorable quotes, mystic music, aerial video footage and angle shots which gave emphasis on spiritual closeness, superiority and physical adventure. I think of journey as a life changing experience which changes the persons view on life this is shown through the climatic experiences which are faced with Molly Craig and Frodo Baggins.