Whale Rider (2002)

Director:

Niki Caro

Writers:

Witi Ihimaera (novel)
Niki Caro (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

One young girl dared to confront the past, change the present and determine the future

Plot:

A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.

Plot Keywords:

Young Girl | Culture Clash | Mother Died At Childbirth | Generation Gap | Dying In Childbirth

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 29 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Keisha Castle-Hughes	...	Paikea
Rawiri Paratene	...	Koro
Vicky Haughton	...	Nanny Flowers
Cliff Curtis	...	Porourangi
Grant Roa	...	Uncle Rawiri
Mana Taumaunu	...	Hemi
Rachel House	...	Shilo
Taungaroa Emile	...	Willie
Tammy Davis	...	Dog
Mabel Wharekawa	...	Maka (as Mabel Wharekawa-Burt)
Rawinia Clarke	...	Miro
Tahei Simpson	...	Miss Parata
Roi Taimana	...	Hemi's Dad (as Roimata Tamana)
Elizabeth Skeen	...	Rehua
Tyronne White	...	Jake (as Tyrone White)

Also Known As:

Geliebte Giganten - Wale (Germany)
Te kaieke tohora (New Zealand: Maori title)
A Bálnalovas (Hungary) [hu]
Encantadora de Baleias (Brazil) [pt]
Jinete de ballenas (Argentina) [es]
Légende des baleines, La (Canada: French title) [fr]
Paï (France) [fr]
Ragazza delle balene, La (Italy) [it]
Valasratsastaja (Finland) [fi]
Whale Rider (Denmark) [da]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief language and a momentary drug reference.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

New Zealand | Germany

Language:

English | Maori

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-7 | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Henderson Valley Studios, Hickory Avenue, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

ApolloMedia

Trivia:

Much of the film is about Paikea doing traditional Maori things which women were not supposed to do (e.g. sitting in the canoe, fighting). The film cast and crew performed special Maori chants in order to ward off traditional bad luck that might arise from Keisha Castle-Hughes doing the things as part of the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: The father and grandfather are arguing after the slide show, and the father goes to pull down the white sheet that was hung over some drapes to act as a screen. He pulls it down, along with the rod and orange drapes that the sheet was hanging from. Moments later, the drapes are back up in place and hanging perfectly straight, and there wasn't enough time for him to re-hang the drapes.

Quotes:

[about her brother]
Paikea: They were waiting for their new leader... but he died.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

U Want Beef

A feel-good movie that doesn't suck (***1/2)

"Whale Rider" can accurately be called an art film, but it's also one that will appeal to mainstream audiences. That's because it has a strong story that deals with universal themes like family, tradition, childhood and rebellion. The story is unique and unpredictable but also comfortingly familiar.

The main character is a young girl named Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) who is the grand-daughter of the chief of a Maori tribe in New Zealand. Her twin brother, who was to be the future chief, died along with the mother in childbirth. Grief-stricken, her father (Cliff Curtis) fled, leaving Pai as the only family descendant, but of course she can't be chief because she's a girl. That doesn't stop her from trying, though.

Her grandfather (Rawiri Paratene), a stern, traditionalist chief, loves Pai dearly, but refuses to mess with tradition by even attempting to train her to be the chief of the tribe, even though she truly believes she is meant to be chief. He begins to train first-born male sons of other tribesmen, but Pai eavesdrops, soaking up all the knowledge she can.

The first 2/3 of the movie is excellently done but fairly familiar. Pai is a terrific and instantly sympathetic character and we feel for her in her struggle to assert herself in the face of a sexist tradition without losing the love of her stern grandfather. Then, in the last third, when the whales actually come into play, the story enters territory that is thrillingly unpredictable and incredibly powerful.

The ending, in particular, has quite an emotional punch.

It also bears mentioning that Keisha Castle-Hughes is one of the best child actors I've seen in years; she will get some tears from you, guaranteed.

This is a great movie for kids, but it's not a "kid's movie". It's moving, beautifully filmed, and inspirational without being the slightest bit cheesy. It's worth seeking out even if you don't follow the art-house circuit.