On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him an... d a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
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Wonderful story about hope
‘Whalerider’ chronicles the heart warming tale of a young Maori girl who is trying to live up to the role of leader assigned to her by birthright, despite opposition in masculine dominated Maori culture. The film deals with the collision between the old and the new world.
Paikeea, the young girl, is a direct descendent of the original Whalerider, as in Maori legend when coming from the old world into the new, the original Paikeea was carried on a whale’s back to New Zealand. The traditional ways are represented by Paikeea’s grandfather the leader of his generation who is trying to pass the baton to a new generation, but he does not want Paikeea to become the new le...
Whale Rider
Beautifully filmed - New Zealand looks wonderful - with a great central performance from Keisha Castle-Hughes. The basic story-line is fairly predictable - girl fighting for love & respect of proud father-figure - but its told in a straight-forward & un-patronising way, which ultimately saves the film from becoming too sickly-sweet. Overall, an average-to-good film which is elevated by Keisha Castle-Hughes' a star performance - good if you want an unchallenging night in, in front of the fire.
Aside from Peter Jackson's early splatter films and later blockbusters, the greater proportion of New Zealand films have tended toward the gritty drama (such as Once Were Warriors) or the fabulistic (such as Vincent Ward's Vigil; even The Piano). Whale Rider, adapted by director Niki Caro from the 1987 novel by writer Witi Ihimaera (who is associate producer), falls squarely in the latter camp. With its isolated Maori community, littoral setting and concern with myth, this is not a recognisably modern world. With this timeless quality, the film is fundamentally about how folklore is always pertinent, for the cultural framework and sense of identity it provides.
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Whale Rider
If you want a family drama that takes in such weighty issues as spirituality, destiny and the role of women in Maori culture, then this unsentimental drama from director Niki Caro fits the bill. The focus is on schoolgirl Paikea (played by Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes), who must prove her ancestral worth and leadership qualities to her old-fashioned grandfather, a believer in upholding masculine tribal traditions in a fast-changing world. The stern character of the patriarchal Koro (Rawiri Paratene), the stunning scenery of the New Zealand coastline, the often sharply funny and well-observed script and the uniformly solid acting ensure that any cloying worthiness...
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Well after all this time I have finally seen our home grown movie from New Zealand. The young actress is absolutely superb, such a natural innocence to her acting. I would recommend this movie for a slow weekend relaxer..I thought the storyline would have had more to it though..
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