For nearly 70 years, ending only as recently as 1971, the Australian government pursued the extraordinarily callous policy of swiping half-caste Aboriginal children from their parents in order to train them for domestic servitude in white society.

Phillip Noyce’s fantastic film, based on the book by Doris Pilkington (daughter of Molly, one of the girls portrayed in the film) examines this grave historical injustice, but also crafts a tense and thrilling viewing experience around those known in Australia as the ‘Stolen Generation’.

In 1931, three little girls were snatched from their family and idyllic existence by order of A.O. Neville (Branagh), the government’s chief protector of the Aborigines. They were incarcerated in a purpose-built settlement, so that they could be trained as servants, and Europeanised by being placed in white households. One of the girls, Molly (the wonderful Sampi) was having none of it, and thus began an astonishing thousand-mile homeward bound trek with her sister Daisy (Sansbury) and her cousin Gracie (Monaghan).

If it’s a remarkable tale in itself, the film does it considerable justice and becomes easily the best walkabout movie since, well, Walkabout. It is also a highly effective and enthralling chase film, ensuring that it will find an audience outside those with an interest in social issues.

Highly impressive.