Whale Rider (2002)

Director:

Niki Caro

Writers:

Niki Caro (written by)
Witi Ihimaera (book)

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:

Tradition | New Zealand | Girl | Maori | Canoe

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 Taimana)
Elizabeth Skeen	...	Rehua
Tyronne White	...	Jake (as Tyrone White)
Taupua Whakataka-Brightwell	...	Ropata
Tenia McClutchie-Mita	...	Wiremu
Peter Patuwai	...	Bubba
Rutene Spooner	...	Parekura
Riccardo Davis	...	Maui
Apiata Whangaparita-Apanui	...	Henare
John Sumner	...	Obstetrician
Sam Woods	...	Young Rawiri
Pura Tangira	...	Ace
Jane O'Kane	...	Anne
Aumuri Parata-Haua	...	Baby Paikea

Directed by
Niki Caro

Writing credits
Niki Caro		(written by)
Witi Ihimaera		(book "The Whale Rider")

Produced by
John Barnett	....	producer
Reinhard Brundig	....	co-producer
Bill Gavin	....	executive producer
Linda Goldstein Knowlton	....	executive producer
Reinhild Gräber	....	supervising producer: ApolloMedia
Frank Hübner	....	producer
Witi Ihimaera	....	associate producer
Rudolf Kurz	....	supervising producer: ApolloMedia
Tim Sanders	....	producer

Original Music by
Lisa Gerrard

Cinematography by
Leon Narbey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Coulson

Casting by
Diana Rowan

Production Design by
Grant Major

Art Direction by
Grace Mok

Costume Design by
Kirsty Cameron

Makeup Department
Barbie Cope	....	hair assistant
Barbie Cope	....	makeup assistant
Denise Kum	....	hair supervisor
Denise Kum	....	makeup supervisor
Jane O'Kane	....	hair assistant
Jane O'Kane	....	makeup assistant
Kenzie Sampson	....	makeup trainee (as Kenzie Samson)
Orlando Bassi	....	wig maker (uncredited)

Production Management
Janet McIver	....	production manager
Peter Moerenhout	....	unit manager (as Pete Moerenhout)
Anne Urban	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anna Gundesen	....	assistant director: second unit
Neil James	....	second assistant director
Michelle Sowman	....	third assistant director
Liz Tan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
John Brockie	....	carpenter
Pete Burney	....	carpenter
Brian Campbell	....	set finisher
Graham Collins	....	carpenter
Kerry Dunn	....	scenic artist
Jackie Gilmore	....	set dresser
Brett Graham	....	sculptor: Porourangi's sculpture
Kate Highfield	....	art department manager
Maka Makatoa	....	storyboard artist
Bernard Makoare	....	designer: Reiputa
John Miles	....	construction manager
Russell Munro	....	carpenter (as Russ Munro)
Lia Neilson	....	art department runner
Josh Patterson	....	greensman
Aaron Reedy	....	property assistant
Michaela Sanders	....	art department runner
Richard Sheath	....	leading hand
Megan Vertelle	....	set dresser/buyer
Nick Walter	....	carpenter
Nick Weir	....	props buyer
Neil Williamson	....	carpenter
Patrick Matete	....	props (uncredited)
Roger Murray	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Anthony Sumich	....	props stand-by (uncredited)

Sound Department
Chris Burt	....	adr supervisor
Stefan Colli	....	sound designer: atmos (as Stephan Colli)
Stefan Colli	....	sound supervisor (as Stephan Colli)
Corrin Ellingford	....	boom operator
Hubert Henle	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Stefan Korte	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Madigan	....	sound recordist
Sven Neumann	....	dialogue editor
Mirko Reinhard	....	special effects sound designer
Luigi Rensinghoff	....	dialogue editor
Wilmont Schulze	....	foley artist
Josef Steinbüchel	....	special effects sound designer
Markus Wimmer	....	special effects sound designer
André Zimmerman	....	sound designer: atmos (as André Zimmermann)
David Madigan	....	production sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Phil Addenbrook	....	physical effects: Film Effects (as Phil Addenbrooke)
Dean Clarke	....	physical effects: Film Effects
Oliver Gee	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Dan Blanchard	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Christel Brunn	....	visual effects producer: TVT
Justin Buckingham	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Manfred Büttner	....	visual effects producer: TVT
Barry Down	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Steve Dyson	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Erich Eder	....	inferno artist: TVT
Erich Eder	....	technical director: TVT
Terry Green	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Jason Johnston	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
John Lott	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Steve Lowe	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
George Maihöfer	....	visual effects superviser: TVT (as George Maihoefer)
Charlie McClellan	....	digital effects consultant: TVT (as Charles McClellan)
Greg N. Nichols	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects (as Greg Nichols)
Kevin Riley	....	visual effects
Caterina Schiffers	....	digital compositing: TVT
Florian Schuck	....	digital retouching: TVT
Dean Taylor	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Gaysorn Thavatt	....	visual effects (as Gatsorn Thavat)
Markus Wollschläger	....	digital retouching: TVT
Steve Young	....	whale construction: Glasshammer Visual Effects
Dee McClelland	....	dailies colorist (uncredited)

Stunts
Mark Harris	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Armie Armstrong	....	underwater camera operator
Rachel Beard	....	clapper loader
Joshua Creek	....	additional grip (as Josh Creeks)
Kevin Donovan	....	key grip
Rhys Duncan	....	steadicam operator
Kirsty Griffin	....	still photographer
Brenden Holster	....	camera assistant: second unit (as Brendan Holster)
Steven Joyce	....	generator operator (as Steve Joyce)
Brian Laird	....	best boy
Henare Mato	....	lighting assistant
Grant McKinnon	....	gaffer
Leon Narbey	....	camera operator
Kevin Riley	....	camera operator: second unit
Jim Rowe	....	grip assistant
Paul Samuels	....	focus puller
Sigmund Spath	....	underwater photographer
Gaysorn Thavatt	....	focus puller: second unit (as Gaysorn Thavat)
Johnny Yarrel	....	video assistant
James Young	....	lighting assistant
Paul Matete	....	best boy (uncredited)

Casting Department
Christina Asher	....	additional casting
Robyn Cammell	....	casting assistant (as Robin Cammell)
Riwia Fox	....	casting assistant
Riwia Fox	....	extras casting
Karen Sydney	....	additional casting
Stewart Turner	....	additional casting (as Stuart Turner)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Paul Booth	....	wardrobe runner
Deirdre McKessar	....	assistant costume designer
Jenny Rushton	....	standby wardrobe (as Jenni Rushton)

Editorial Department
Julie Alp	....	assistant editor
Hans Joachim Bruß	....	color grader (as Hans-Joachim Bruß)
Renate Dahmen	....	negative cutter
Guido Krajewski	....	editing facility manager
Bruce McArthur	....	laboratory manager: Atlas
Robert Pinnow	....	post-production technical supervisor: TVT
Clare Burlinson	....	video colorist (uncredited)
Charles Knight	....	editorial advisor (uncredited)
Dee McClelland	....	rushes colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Simon Bowley	....	music mixer
Ricky Edwards	....	technical music support (as Rickey Edwards)
Chris Gough	....	music supervisor: Mana Music
Jacek Tuschewski	....	technical music support (as Jacek Tushewski)
Michael Edwards	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Phil Addenbrook	....	marine engineer: Film Effects (as Phil Addenbrooke)
Kath Allen	....	chaperone: Gisborne
Shane Armitage	....	safety officer
Thomas Becker	....	legal affairs: ApolloMedia
Tania Bettany	....	financial controller: South Pacific Pictures
Josef Brandmaier	....	structured finance
Anni Browning	....	completion bond: Film Finances
Sally Campbell	....	head of production: South Pacific Pictures
Alice Carstensen	....	production runner
Dean Clarke	....	marine engineer: Film Effects
Sian Clement	....	unit publicist
Helen Copplestone	....	assistant accountant
Birthe Danielsen	....	assistant: Mr. Felscher
David Dant	....	shortfall insurance: Filmvision
Matt Emery	....	legal and business affairs manager: South Pacific Pictures
Thorsten Felscher	....	financial controller: ApolloMedia
Laura Fong	....	production coordinator
Oliver Gee	....	marine engineer: Film Effects
Moira Grant	....	production coordinator
Carol Haapu	....	consultant: Iwi
Rewa Harker	....	assistant: John Barnett
Brian Harris	....	operator: remote head
Karen Hawkyard	....	animal wrangler
Willie Heatley	....	boat coordinator (as Willy Heatley)
Maude Isaac	....	chaperone: Gisborne
Lyssa Judd	....	production runner
Camelija Karlic	....	production coordinator: Pandora
Jens Kriegel	....	projection assistant
Matt Lawford	....	shortfall insurance: Filmvision
Di Magee	....	production accountant
Samia Mainz	....	assistant: Mr. Hubner
Pat Merrifield	....	swimming coach
Guy Moana	....	maori design/carvings
James Mok	....	title designer: TVT
Damian Molloy	....	water safety
Markus Münz	....	projection assistant
Waio Parata-Haua	....	stand-in: Paikea
Podge	....	location manager
Johnny Poi	....	instructor: Taiaha
Ngamaru Raerino	....	kaumatua: South Pacific Pictures
Karin Reinink	....	assistant: John Barnett
Robert Sarkies	....	script editor
Joan Scheckel	....	script consultant
Nadine Schäfer	....	assistant: Mr. Westerkamp and Mr. Schafer
Krissy Stainton	....	production runner
Dominic Stones	....	unit assistant
Gavin Strawhan	....	script consultant
Hone Taumaunu	....	consultant: Iwi
Rainer Teusner	....	accountant: Pandora
Kathleen Thomas	....	continuity (as Kath Thomas)
Aaron Tomlinson	....	casual assistant
Martin Trendall	....	insurance: Mahony, Trendall, Jack
Mike Turner	....	manager: second unit
Karla Wallace	....	production secretary
Jörg Westerkamp	....	legal affairs: ApolloMedia (as Jorg Westerkamp)
Stephanie Wilkin	....	chaperone
Stephanie Wilkin	....	tutor
Hone Taumaunu	....	production advisor (uncredited)

Thanks
Dave Ahu	....	special thanks
Mere Boynton	....	special thanks
Nancy Greystone	....	special thanks
Liddy Holloway	....	special thanks
Derek Lardelli	....	special thanks (as Derek)
Rose Lardelli	....	special thanks
Andrew Lister	....	special thanks
Ian Mune	....	special thanks
Murray Newey	....	special thanks
Kath Te Kani	....	special thanks
Judith Trye	....	special thanks
Tim Worrall	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• South Pacific Pictures (presents)
• ApolloMedia (presents) (as Apollo Media Filmproduktion)
• Pandora Filmproduktion (presents) (as Pandora Film)
• New Zealand Film Production Fund (in association with) (as The New Zealand Film Production Fund)
• New Zealand Film Commission (in association with) (as The New Zealand Film Commission)
• New Zealand On Air (in association with) (as NZ On Air)
• Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen (sponsored by) (as Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH)

Distributors

• Solopan (2002) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (200?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Australia) (2003) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Filmladen (2003) (Austria) (theatrical)
• First Distributors (2003) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Newmarket Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• NonStop Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Pandora Filmproduktion (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2003) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2003) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Telexcel (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Telexcel/ImpactoCine (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• With Cinema (2003) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (VHS)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (2005) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Sony Pictures Television (????) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Film Effects Co. Ltd. (marine engineers and physical effects) (as Film Effects)
• Glasshammer Visual Effects (whale construction)
• tvt. postproduction (digital visual effects provided by) (as TVT, The Vision Team Digital Postproduction Gmbh)

Other Companies

• ARRI Digital  digital scanning and recording (as Arri Digital)
• ARRI Rental  cameras supplied by
• ARRI  cameras supplied by (as Arriflex, Cologne)
• Bayerische HypoVereinsbank AG München  film banking [de]
• Bonifant and Saxby  caterers
• Cut Company  editing (as Cut Company, Cologne)
• Digital Post Ltd.  telecine facility: New Zealand
• Film Finances  completion bond company
• Filmvision P.L.I. Ltd.  shortfall insurance (as Filmvision P.L.I.)
• Granada Wild  whale footage
• Kodak Eastmancolour  filmstock supplied by
• Mahony, Trendall, Jack  insurance company
• Mana Music  music supervision
• Ngati Konohi  special thanks
• Oktobor  telecine facility: New Zealand
• Ruhr Sound Studios  sound mixing facility (as Rohrsound, Dortmund)
• Te Wananga O Aotearoa  special thanks to
• Torus  foley recording (as Torus Gmbh, Köln)

Also Known As:

"Te kaieke tohora" - New Zealand (Maori title)
"A Domadora de Baleias" - Portugal (imdb display title)
"A bálnalovas" - Hungary
"Encantadora de Baleias" - Brazil
"Jahacica kitova" - Croatia (imdb display title)
"Jinete de ballenas" - Argentina
"La légende des baleines" - Canada (French title)
"La leyenda de las ballenas" - Mexico (imdb display title)
"La ragazza delle balene" - Italy
"Paï" - France
"To simadi tis falainas" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Valasratsastaja" - Finland
"Whale Rider" - Denmark
"Whale rider" - Spain

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:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Peru:PT | 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:

South Pacific Pictures

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:

[first lines]
Paikea:In the old days, the land felt a great emptiness. It was waiting. Waiting to be filled up. Waiting for someone to love it. Waiting for a leader.
[child birth scene]
Paikea:And he came on the back of a whale. A man to lead a new people. Our ancestor, Paikea. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. For the boy who would be chief.
Paikea:There was no gladness when I was born. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mating Rituals 101 (2004)

Soundtrack:

Bar One

A real machismo meltdown.

A beautifully filmed and convincingly acted treat for the entire family. Adults need NOT beware since the film respects its audience and contains levels of depth suitable for all ages. Although ultimately an upbeat movie, there are some grim plot elements that may not be appropriate for very young or overly sensitive children. However, there's no actual violence or anything truly frightening or morbid.

This is the story of a 12 year old Maori girl who knows that she is born to the destiny her grandfather believes died with her stillborn twin brother. I won't spoil the ending (which is hinted at early on) with specifics, but suffice it to say that the story's ultimate lesson is that change is sometimes as necessary a component of living traditions as repetitive ceremony. And that the Maori must ride that "whale" as bravely as their mythological ancestor rode the whale from Havaiki (a satellite island of Tahiti, NOT Hawaii) to New Zealand. Not to destroy or denigrate their culture, but to ensure its vitality and continuity in the cultural matrix of the modern world.

A great lesson in true cultural diversity without preachy slogans or "politically correct" censorship. It should be shown in all the world's classrooms. Keisha Castle-Hughes is unforgettable as the heroine, and richly deserves the Oscar for which she has been nominated.