Featured Actors: Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea; Rawiri Paratene as Koro; Vicky Haughton as Nanny Flowers; Cliff Curtis as Porourangi; Grant Roa as Uncle Rawiri; and Mana Taumaunu as Hemi Director: Niki Caro. 545 Words3 Pages. The late mother of Kahu and wife of Porourangi, Rehua has the same connection to Muriwai as Nanny Flowers, and demonstrates her own sort of independence by naming her daughter after a male hero of the Whangara people. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Their way of life is being put to the test: they can either save the whale or fail and fall into ruin. "[11] Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars and said, "The genius of the movie is the way it sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving." During the course of his stay, Rawiri has to face racist behavior from Jeffs social circle, especially his mother. Pais father can be his own person in Germany, away from the restraints of his father, the tribe, and Maori culture. For the boy who would be chief. Such is the case with Keisha Castle Hughes. Later when Kahu also awakens, he tells her for the first time that he loves her. In this, he is like Paikea who cannot be a chief simply because of her birth: she is a woman. Her grandmother, Nanny, tells Pai that her second son, Pai's uncle, had won a taiaha tournament in his youth while he was still slim and so Pai secretly learns from him. Keiko vs Porourangi (nobody knows vs. whale rider) Pais father is not around but Pai is growing up in the care of her . The old man feels himself to be under increasing pressure to teach and preserve the cultural knowledge that he and so few others currently possess. The Ta moko was predominately for males and among traditional Maori it was rare that a woman would have tattoos. Not only is this the land of her father's family, but it is also . The world premiere was on 9 September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Pa : l'lue d'un peuple nouveau streaming vf gratuit francais. Privacy Policy The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. One day, Koro takes some of his star pupils out to sea. Whale Rider introduces its protagonist, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), experiencing a trauma shared by countless other Disney heroines: her mother's death. Nanny tells Pai that her uncle, Rawiri, knows some things worth knowing . The entire village attempts to coax and drag them back into the water, but all efforts prove unsuccessful, and even a tractor does not help. Maori tradition provides that only first born sons can be chief. Pai is female and so technically cannot inherit the leadership. As a result, Rawiri becomes overweight and escapes into alcohol or other drugs. She is a young girl with a strong and determined temperament and a soft and innocent heart. All of the main characters are impacted by the dynamic between tradition and modernity. Based on 155 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 91%, with an average score of 7.77 as of October 2020. This conflict can be seen in Native American cultures today and is often the source of individual as well as tribal difficulties. Kahu returns to Whangara several times when she is able. Whangara, New Zealand. Setting. 8. An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes. Titre original: Whale Rider Popularit: 14.114 Dure: 97 Minutes Slogan: Dans les voies des anciens, elle a trouv un espoir pour l'avenir. TWM offers the following movie worksheets to keep students minds on the film and to focus their attention on the lessons to be learned from the movie. The film ends with Pai's father, grandparents, and uncle coming together to celebrate her status as the new leader, as the finished waka is hauled into the sea for its maiden voyage. [17], Whale Rider grossed US$41 million worldwide.[3]. She persists and fights for what she wants. Before starting the introduction, on a globe or map of the world, show students the locations of New Zealand and Germany in relation to each other and to the community in which they live. Whale Rider [Maori title: Te Kaieke Tohora] is a 2002 film based on the book The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. Another symbolic action in the scene occurs when Pai ties the rope and uses it to make the engine start. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. But he knew the ancient ones were there for him so he called out to them to lift him up and give him strength. Whale Rider offers young people the opportunity to learn about a different culture and to examine the difficulties that many traditional groups experience in facing change. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. However, this canoe was designed to have a hole that Rua-Tapu kept sealed with the heel of his foot. As in many cultures, the value of ancestors and a reverence for the past shape Maori consciousness. However, the great tragedy of the event is that Koro never shows up. Describe the symbols shown by this scene. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Her speech expresses her utmost desire to please her great-grandfather and to uphold the Maori culture. In addition, the screenwriter needed to make Porourangis rejection of the role of chief to be emphatic and permanent in order to make Pais rise to the position believable. Before Europeans arrived, the Maori language was not written. Good performances by all the leads though the story worries around a barn door being open long, long after the horse has already gone. The comment that Germany is just about as far from New Zealand as a person can get. And soon everyone will be strong, not just the ones that have been chosen. All of the main characters are impacted by the dynamic between tradition and modernity. They will soon die if they are not pushed back to sea. Read the Study Guide for The Whale Rider, Tradition as a Tool for Oppressing Women in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider, The Influence of Beliefs on Individual Life in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider., View Wikipedia Entries for The Whale Rider. When Rua-Tapu tried to use a sacred comb belonging to one of his high-born brothers, he was humiliated by the Chief who made it clear that Rua-Tapu was of a lower caste than his siblings. After the death of his wife and despite overwhelming pressure from Koro, Pai's father refuses to assume traditional leadership or finish the waka that he had started building for the baby son; instead, he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist. This custom died out by the end of the 1800s, although Maori continued tattooing other parts of their bodies. Most are now extinct. A rope is seen in the episode in which the villagers try to help the beached whales return to the sea. Pai's Opening Voice-Over PAI (narrating): In the old days the land felt a great emptiness that was waiting, waiting to be filled up, waiting . The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. Bibliography. Koro tries to maintain order. You will never be lost to us.'". Because of his status as eldest, he is the default choice for leadership after Koro passes away. The ____ family in the movie, despite their beliefs or rituals, can be just like an American family, or any other one. . He fails to be a strong presence in the life of his child. 1 / 20. In this story, the Taiaha, the ability to fight with war sticks is a symbol. What important aspects of character are shown at the films end? During the night, Rawiri, Koro, Kahu and Nanny hear a booming sound coming from the sea, as if a great door has just opened, and then they witness a large group of huge whales emerge from the bottom of the sea. The whales in the movie are a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI. Back home, Rawiri notes that Koro has become even more obsessed in his mission of finding a male successor. Coming Soon. [7] In 2006 a picture book version illustrated by Bruce Potter was listed as one of the Storylines Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand Notable Books List. B. Whale Rider [Maori title: Te Kaieke Tohora] is a 2002 film . Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand drama film written and directed by Niki Caro. Towards the end of the year, Kahu invites her family to a school ceremony that will include cultural presentations. A young girl might fulfill a prophecy in an indigenous New Zealand community. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! The symbolic meaning stated by Koro is that each strand of the rope represents an ancestor with the rope being the tribe. While some humans take advantage of these whales to harvest their meat and organs, most of the locals of Whangara attempt to organize a rescue attempt and deliver the whales back to sea. By the time the Europeans arrived in the late 1700s, the Maori were well-established. Discussion Questions Traditional myths and information about navigation are carved into the walls. In the film "Whale Rider" directed by Niki Caro, in a small town in New Zealand called Whangara a innocent young girl called Paikea is born and she is everything Koro didn't want in the future chief/leader. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. At this point, fearing Pai is lost, Nanny reveals to Koro that his granddaughter found the rei puta, and Koro is stunned into realizing the error of his ways. Billy is a close friend of Rawiri's and a member of the same biker gang. 8. investigate the sexism found in modern societies and recent changes in gender roles. Pais defeat of Hemi is a symbol that she is the leader for whom Koro is searching. uneven distributions of wealth. Later on, Kahu goes out to sea with Nanny and Rawiri, and when they reach the spot above the stone, Kahu dives into the sea and retrieves the stone. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Diana Rowan Production Design by Grant Major The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. Castle-Hughes impressed Caro in the resulting workshop and was cast as Pai. The movie was based on the novel, The Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera. Regal Plan and present a debate on the elimination of gender roles in society. The story is all about how the Maori people will hold on to their tradition while navigating the strange tides of modern times. 11. It is Pai who saves the whales and, in so doing convinces, her grandfather that she should be Chief. Then man arrived from the east, and the relationship between nature and man throve. Most Promising Performer (Keisha Castle-Hughes, Best Screenplay Adapted (Niki Caro, lost to, Best Supporting Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to, Bar One (International Observer) Loaded Sounds , This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 09:45. It wasnt anybodys fault, it just happened. Koro sees that as a sign of his failure and despairs further. Bless Me Ultima is a mystical realism novel in which 6 year old protagonist, Antonio Marez, begins the journey of discovering himself on the path of adolescence. Just confirm how you got your ticket. All of the problems with prejudice are shown in this film. The Maori were the first human beings to live in New Zealand and brought with them a highly evolved Stone Age culture. It is the present day, but the director has been careful not to be specific. As for Kahu, she has returned to stay with her father longer-term. Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a Maori tribe in New Zealand. Maori children were taught about their ancestors by memorizing the names of the person represented by each notch. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Pai wanted to show Koro how strong she was so he could love her. Many have been born, but for the village elder all have been disappointments. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role reserved for males only. For society as a whole, prejudice limits the contribution that the victims can make. This link will take you to a video of the scene from the movie in which a karanga is called and answered as students are welcomed to the opening of their new school. Though the film brims with authenticity, it is almost too authentic. The Girl Who Could Every culture has principles that create a foundation for its belief system, and changing these principles is disdained. Waiting for a leader. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. Expectations and disappointments. [4] Casting director Diana Rowan visited numerous schools to find an actress to play Pai. For the film, see, Storylines Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand Notable Books List, "The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera Read by Jay Lagaaia | Audiobook Review", "Reading Resolution: "The Whale Rider" by Witi Ihimaera", "The Most Translated Books From Every Country in the World", "Te Kaieke Tohor by Witi Ihimaera, n Tmoti Kretu i whakamori", "Remarkable Kiwis win the non-fiction Children's Choice award | Scoop News", "Film-making in the service of identity politics", "The God of Small Things to Shuggie Bain: the Queen's jubilee book list", "The Big Jubilee Read: Books from 1982 to 1991", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Whale_Rider&oldid=1088553471, This page was last edited on 18 May 2022, at 18:34. Using the Movie in the Classroom Waiting for someone to love it. Then a pod of whales, an animal revered by the Maori, beaches itself on the sand near the tribes home. . The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching . [6] Producer John Barnett said "This novel was set in Whangara and it would almost have been heresy to shoot anywhere else. Social-Emotional Learning She held the record until 2012 when Quvenzhan Wallis (at the age of 9) was nominated for that category for the film Beasts of the Southern Wild. Bridges to Reading When the prejudice is gone, they can fully enjoy Paikea. hunting and gathering and some horticulture. Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea; Rawiri Paratene as Koro; Vicky Haughton as Nanny Flowers; Cliff Curtis as Porourangi; Grant Roa as Uncle Rawiri; and Mana Taumaunu as Hemi. The Whale Rider Summary The story begins with a focus on the ancient days, when nature and all wildlife were excitedly waiting for the coming of man. Prejudiced societies also lack a fundamental sense of justice and fairness. hierarchy exists. Movies. At that time, the fauna of New Zealand was dominated by insects and birds. Dont worry, it wont take long. Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for the 2004 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Click here for a still picture of two women calling a karanga. But to break with convention, she'll have to do the impossible: win over her ultra-traditional grandfather (Rawiri Paratene). They organize all available vehicles and manpower down on the beach and attempt all sorts of measures to get the bull whale back to sea, but the giant creature stubbornly resists and continues to wait for itself to die on the shore. The Whale Rider The revered figure of Whangara's Maori people and Kahu's direct ancestor, the whale rider develops an extremely close bond with a whale. Nanny also has a deep love and softness for offspring. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. His father was a Chief in Hawaiiki with many wives and numerous children. The is shown by the last scene in which Pais grandfather, now fully accepting the idea that she will be Chief, smiles lovingly at his granddaughter. [9] By comparison, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 top reviews from mainstream critics, calculated an average score of 79, based on 31 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".