Whale Rider

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Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Niki Caro
Studio: Sony Pictures
Release Date: 2003-10-28
Running Time: 101 minutes
There is a legend that Paikea rode on the back of a whale and led his people to New Zealand. Since that time tradition has decreed that the first-born male descendant will become chief of the tribe. Then Pai is born...and she is a girl. She grows up within a close-knit village which retains the tribes traditional spiritual relationship with the sea and their warrior values. Although loved by all, Pai faces rejection from her grandfather, Koro, who is brokenhearted that there is no grandson to carry on the line.

best movie ever
This movie is SO special! Its moving,beautiful and full of inspiration. Its my all time favorite movie.

Whle Rider
This is a wonderfully told story about a family coming to terms with traditions clashing with new realities, and how preconcieved notions about gender have to give way to those realities. The women in this story are strong, quietly forceful, and ultimately prove to be the leaders in the family. I live this film and the messages it gives.

The Whale Rider Review
I have seen this movie once before, and it was nothing short of inspirational the second time around. The Whangara tribe's faith derives from Paikea, the first Whale Rider. Like many tribal religion, their tribe faces the threats of extinction when the Koro's son fails to give him a male heir to the tribe. Pai, his only daughter, not only faces being orphaned by her father (who left the tribe not being able to face his wife and son's death), but the rejection of her grandfather as the one who would carry on their tribe's legacy. When Pai's father returns, Koro hopes he would become the next chief, but he is gravely disappointed. Pai's father leaves the village once more, this time taking her with him. But, Pai returns. However, Koro continues to become more and more distant towards Pai, believing that she will never be able to fulfill the roles of a Chief in their tribe, even though his wife continues to tell him so. Koro becomes more stressed with the emergence of a beached whale, thinking that it is a sign for the worse. He and the other tribe's people struggle to save its life, but they are unable to. Pai's ability to lead the whale back to safety is finally tested, and with it she gains the title of the Whale Rider, as well as the respect and adoration of Koro.
The Whangara people focus on their ancestral values, animism, and they also embody earth-focused beliefs. This movie not only shows these beliefs in action, but also embodies the struggles that many tribal religions have to face in the world today; movement of their people into the outside world. People leave to find better lives and quickly become accustomed to the lifestyle, never to return to their homes. It also shows the struggle to survive and maintain tradition with the daily threats of the outside world. It is a great movie that enlightens the audience about the many problems faced by people today. However, it still remains deep rooted in the morality and ethics of faith and its existence.

Maori Power
Whale Rider is the story of a young girl whose mother and twin brother died at her birth. This tragedy has profoundly affected her family, which includes her grandfather, who is chief of a long lineage going all the way back to the Maori ancestor called the Whalerider. Her grandfather is strong but stubborn that only a male can be the next chief. He cannot look to his two grown sons for this, and so he creates a school to teach the first-born boys in his village the secret ways of the Maori warrior, in hopes that one of them will emerge as the rightful chief.

The movie is slow and drawn-out, and that is why I rated it four stars instead of five. And, I expected much more at the climax. The performances, setting, music and acting are outstanding. The little girl , her character and the actress, is so inspiring for her courage to follow her own path in the face of constant, withering criticism from the one person she wants to please - her grandfather. Truly, some of the things he says to her are horrible.

I do recommend this film, but younger children might lose interest because of the lack of action. Also, there is some brief, but very crude and inappropriate "guy humour" in one scene at the grandfather's school for boys.

Whale Rider is worth seeing for the outstanding performance of this young girl. I can't wait to see her future projects.

Erica Asahan Top 50 Movies Of ll time
Erica Asahan Wrote:

This movie was probably one of the best I have seen in decades! I love the main character. Her determination and courage inspired me. I have watched this movie at least a dozen times since I bought it and I just love it!