He is sent with Rawiri to tie the rope around the ancient whale's tail in their effort to rescue the whale. In the time of the story he is in his early twenties. Paikea became the ruler of the people who lived on the islands. She sympathizes with the difficulty of her husbands life, telling her granddaughter, Hes got a lot of rules to live by.. For the novel, see, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association, "Glasshammer visual effects production photos", "Haunting 'Whale Rider' revisits a timeless legend", The Whale Road: Transitioning from Spiritual Links, to Whaling, to Whale Watching in Aotearoa New Zealand, "New Zealand Film "Whale Rider" is Surprise Winner of the Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Audience Award", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whale_Rider&oldid=1142250139, Mabel Wharekawa as Maka (as Mabel Wharekawa-Burt), Roi Taimana as Hemi's Dad (as Roimata Taimana), the World Cinema Audience award at the January 2003, Best Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to, Most Promising Filmmaker (Niki Caro, lost to. "The Whale Rider Summary". Individual genealogy was remembered through the he rakau wakapapa-paranga, a board with a notch for each name and a blank space to denote when a male line of descent died out. Because sometimes, even if youre the leader and you need to be strong, you can get tired like our ancestor Paikea when he was lost at sea and he couldnt find the land and he probably wanted to die. The story begins with a focus on the ancient days, when nature and all wildlife were excitedly waiting for the coming of man. Prejudice limits the ability of the victims to the live the lives they want and to live and to enjoy their inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In addition, in societies in which prejudice dominates, the victims can internalize the prejudice against them and come to believe that they and their group are, in fact, inferior. However, the great tragedy of the event is that Koro never shows up. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. fight. But then the story shifts to Kahu. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Then a pod of whales, an animal revered by the Maori, beaches itself on the sand near the tribes home. Whale Rider 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. The women carry on with their lives accepting the men, yet criticizing the mens thinking. Rawiri's cousin living in Papua New Guinea. See Hongi Example #1 for an image of the traditional Maori greeting. Another example of family dysfunction is Hemis father. Part I begins by refocusing on the herd of whales. . [8] The 60ft (18m)-long waka seen at the end of the film was made in two-halves in Auckland before being transported to Whangara. Links to the Internet Kahu herself plays a prominent role in the ceremony. However, no matter how many leadership qualities Rawiri may possess, he can never be chief because he is a second-born son. 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. whangara iri. Thus, sending Porourangi to Germany advances the plot. The whales in the movie are a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI. Nanny is the wife of Koro and the motherly figure for most of the other main characters. Prejudiced societies also lack a fundamental sense of justice and fairness. ", The film had budget of NZ$9,235,000. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and The next evening an even bigger event occurs, this time witnessed not by everyone but just by the small Maori community within the town. The movie, which takes place in the present day in New . Rawiri thus spends two years in that country with Jeff; they attempt to cultivate the land. He is looking for a suitable successor, which according to local culture ought to be passed from eldest child to eldest child. The message is clear and requires no discussion. Coming Soon. Overjoyed, the whale returns to sea and it descends back into the water with the rest of the herd and Kahu in tow. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Kahu is taken by her mothers family and raised away from Whangarathe setting of the story, a small town in New Zealand populated by the Maori people. Koro recognizes in this event a spiritual warning to him and his people; their test is to return this ancient whale back to sea because they are so connected to this supernatural whale herd that if it lives they live and f it dies they die. She asks Rawiri not to tell their grandparents about her current condition and how her identity has changed. Back in Whangara, big events soon take place. Possible Problems There are voice overs explaining the culture in which the film is set, but I spent some of the film lost about the relationship between the protagonist and the legend she's supposed to fulfill. A rope is seen in the episode in which the villagers try to help the beached whales return to the sea. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. "[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." His response to the strong ties that he feels to Maori culture and the pressure to be chief is to make a clean break. The film received critical acclaim and Castle-Hughes's performance won rave reviews. 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. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! 5. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Using the Movie in the Classroom This brings Kahu to tears. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. Coming Soon, Regal He chooses to take them down the paths leading back to the seas of his youth, a decision that causes dismay among the elder mothers because they know his nostalgia for the past is clouding his present judgment. The oldest of the matrons of the whale herd, this whale is the bull whale's dearest companion. But he knew the ancient ones were there for him so he called out to them to lift him up and give him strength. The results of their research can be presented to the class in oral reports or serve as the basis for a writing assignment. Whale Rider is a film directed by Niki Caro (2002). They head towards a sea trench that used to provide them bounty and shelter but they find there an inhospitable and radioactive place. At their head is a great bull whale with an ancient sacred Maori tattoo. For activities specific to this film, divide the class into small groups and ask students to research one of the following topics for an oral presentation using the technology available in the classroom. Worksheet for Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects. Castle-Hughes impressed Caro in the resulting workshop and was cast as Pai. Whale Rider transmisin en espaol. For the perpetrator, prejudice makes it impossible to have meaningful relationships with an entire class of people and deprives him or her of the satisfaction of participating in a society that is fair and just. However, this canoe was designed to have a hole that Rua-Tapu kept sealed with the heel of his foot. At that time, the fauna of New Zealand was dominated by insects and birds. He remains dedicated in his mission to find a suitable successor, and he is doing all he can as leader of the Whangara Maori community to preserve the Maori culture for future generations in a time of spreading modernity. Identify some of the scenes in which this struggle is shown. This highlights Paikeas decision to struggle against the fate that would have been hers had she not become Chief. However, he is a nurturing man and a leader in the community just by force of his winning personality. Bridges to Reading Whale Rider introduces its protagonist, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), experiencing a trauma shared by countless other Disney heroines: her mother's death. 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. Benefits of the Movie The Whale Rider study guide contains a biography of author Witi Ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. [2] It received $2.5 million from the New Zealand Film Production Fund. She demonstrates racist tendencies when Rawiri comes to help them maintain their plantation. Their way of life is being put to the test: they can either save the whale or fail and fall into ruin. What idea in this speech offers the solution to the problem faced by both Koro and the Maori as a whole? Whale Rider [Maori title: Te Kaieke Tohora] is a 2002 film . uneven distributions of wealth. Ultimately, all the dedicated efforts of Rawiri, his friends, Nanny, and all the other locals fail and all of the whales perish on the beach. 11. Eventually this racism, combined with Rawiris desire to see home again impel him to leave Papua New Guinea and head back to Whangara, New Zealand. This can be seen when the women play cards and joke about the men. This is an echo of the earlier symbol of the rope. It was last revised on July 21, 2011. Germany is very far away from the life of the tribe, in terms of both distance and culture. If Pai had a brother, he would become chief, but her only brother, her twin, died at birth, along with their mother. Look at the problem from the standpoint of the victim, the perpetrator, and society as a whole. Regal The Kiwis have given us a few uplifting films involving their aboriginal peoples and this one is particularly memorable. Rawiri and his biker gang work with the police and rangers to keep whale butchers fro coming near the whales, while the navy is called in to attempt to pull the whales back out to sea. What does this suggest about the tribes problems? Called Ta moko,, they consist of important symbols that help individuals express their unique identities. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role reserved for males only. When the canoe was far out to sea, he moved his foot and all aboard drowned except for Rua-Tapu and Paikea, the latter being saved by a whale who took him to New Zealand. His death prompts Rawiri to accept the tensions between him and Jeff's family, pushing him to leave Papua New Guinea and return to Whangara. The world premiere was on 9 September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Other songs heard in the film include:[21], This article is about the film. However his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), survives. B. ----- 6. 10,000 children were auditioned before narrowing it down to 12. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. subsistance is based on. What important aspects of character are shown at the films end? They are forced to travel to other havens as this long-time home for them has become too inhospitable to live in. Invent a fictitious island inhabited by a tribe you create. [10] Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton of The Movie Show both gave the film four out of five stars. A young man who lives in the present but maintains a deep connection to his past heritage, Rawiri is both an active member of a biker gang and a devoted student of Maori language and culture. The 2002 film Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro, is an adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's 1987 novel The Whale Rider, itself based on the Mori legend of Paikea, or Kahutia Te Rangi, who rode from the ancestral home of Hawaiki to New Zealand's East Coast on the back of a whale.. The tribe and the Maori families are breaking apart because the men are leaving. "[16], The film has also been discussed and praised widely within academia. Parenting Points The story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her grandfather's love and respect, but is neglected and belittled as he seeks to find a new chief to lead the Maori tribe. Part 3 begins, as usual, by focusing on the whale herd. Not affiliated with Harvard College. The waka was given to the Whangara community after filming concluded.[5]. The Girl Who Could Every culture has principles that create a foundation for its belief system, and changing these principles is disdained. Kahu returns to Whangara several times when she is able. Kahu finds Current time: coastal Maori village in New Zealand. There are many harms caused by any prejudice, including racism and sexism. This is called hongi, a gesture that is the social equivalent of a handshake or a kiss on both cheeks. Pais defeat of Hemi is a symbol that she is the leader for whom Koro is searching. Because of his status as eldest, he is the default choice for leadership after Koro passes away. Pai learns the lessons on her own and knows that she is capable of being the Chief. By creating an account, you agree to the However, he is unable to let go, and thoughts of returning to the place of his youth at whatever cost gnaw at his heart. Activities. Pomeranz said "Niki Caro has directed this uplifting story with great sensitivity, eliciting affecting performances from a sterling cast, and a wonderful one from newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes. But Koro always rejected Pai just because she's a girl. During the course of his stay, Rawiri has to face racist behavior from Jeffs social circle, especially his mother. 'Your birth cord is here. When found by humans, Kahu is brought to the hospital to recover and there she is near to Nanny, who collapsed in shock after her dear great-granddaughter left with the whale her Three days have passed since then and Koro and Rawiri have been taking care of the two of them. Coming Soon. 2. This can poison intergroup and personal relations. "[15] Claudia Puig of USA Today gave the film three-and-a-half out of four stars and praised Castle-Hughes' acting, saying "so effectively does she convey her pained confusion through subtle vocal cues, tentative stance and expressive dark eyes. Overall, I liked Whale Rider, but I don't think I fully got it. She thinks that this will be the last time she will ever see her home and family and that accompanying the herd means losing all that she holds dear, but she sacrifices herself nonetheless and chooses to remain as the whale rider. Factory released a 15th anniversary Blu-ray of Whale Rider on their Shout! At one point, Paikea decides to live with her father because her grandfather says he doesn't want her. She leads to him the conclusion that she is Kahutias descendent, and she is the spear he cast into the future and thus she must be returned to her people so she can bring them life-giving benefit and guide them through these troubled times. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. Dont worry, it wont take long. The story is all about how the Maori people will hold on to their tradition while navigating the strange tides of modern times. Pai Ihimaera's The Whale Rider The summary of The Whale Rider is about a young girl, named Pai, who wants to be chief. It is Pai who saves the whales and, in so doing convinces, her grandfather that she should be Chief. More books than SparkNotes. Whale Rider watch online free. These scenes include those that show Maori families as dysfunctional or Maori people abusing alcohol. Discussion Questions Relating to Ethical Issues will facilitate the use of this film to teach ethical principles and critical viewing. Paikea: And he came on the back of a whale. Whale Rider (2002) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Niki Caro Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Music by Lisa Gerrard Cinematography by Leon Narbey . The time is now. Maori tradition provides that only first born sons can be chief. Paikeas uncle, skilled in the art of fighting with war sticks, is not considered fit for the role of Chief because he is the second son. The village leader should be the first-born son, a direct patrilineal descendant of Paikea, the Whale Rider, he who rode on top of a whale (Tohora) from Hawaiki. The problem in Koros mind, however, is that Porourangis eldest child is now Kahu, whobecause she is femaleis not fit to lead according to Koro. "The Whale Rider Characters". The whale mothers look over their young while the single leader whalethe bull whalereminisces about his own youth so long ago, and the precious time he spent with the whale rider. The eldest grandson of Koro and the elder brother of Rawiri, Porourangi is the chosen successor for his generation. Waiting for someone to love it. Then he is excluded from the boat. While she does love him, she is not blind to his faults, and recognizes that his nostalgia can lead the herd into trouble and can lead him to commit significant mistakes. There is no attempt to concretely examine, from a critical perspective, the social system and class oppression that determine the daily realities of ordinary Maori. Rawiri, Porourangi and Nanny all attend, but the seat marked reserved next to Nannya measure Kahu herself had taken to guarantee a spot for Kororemains conspicuously empty throughout the ceremony. However, if you can relate the situation of Paikea or the grandfather to a struggle being waged by someone your child knows, it would be worthwhile to highlight the connection with a comment. It started to break up about 180 million years ago in the Early Jurassic Period. Bibliography. The bull whale pulls itself onto shore and strands itself there, waiting for its death. The patriarchal structure of the family provides grounding to the story, and the interactions between the characters are interesting, but the grand metaphysical puzzle that dominates this film isn't clear to one who is unfamiliar with the film's cultural backdrop. Not only is this the land of her father's family, but it is also . Copyright Fandango. The Whale Rider Quotes and Analysis. Kahu is the eldest great-grandchild of chieftain Koro Apirana; had she been a boy, she would have been the natural future leader of the tribe. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. Jeffs mother and father run a plantation, but his father has become too physically weak to continue with more help, hence their plea to their son to return. More books than SparkNotes. Like most other indigenous cultures, Maori tribes were no match for the diseases and gun-based military prowess of the Europeans. The Maori found them to be easy prey and quickly killed them off. The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching . Best Actress nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes stars in this moving coming-of-age story, set in a modern-day Maori village. The rope breaks and Koro leaves to find another. Another symbolic action in the scene occurs when Pai ties the rope and uses it to make the engine start. Gondwana, also called Gondwanaland, was an ancient supercontinent that incorporated present-day New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica, South America, Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, and India. The scenes with Hemi - at the performance when his dad. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. In 1840, British rule over the Maori was formalized in the Treaty of Waitangi, which granted British citizenship and land rights to the indigenous people of New Zealand, although most of the country was confiscated for European settlers. Cinemark 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. . This shows that he thinks Pais leadership would be dangerous to the tribe, despite the fact that she can do what he cannot. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. Although Pais grandfather, Koro, loves his granddaughter, he is determined to find a male to serve as his successor. Whale Rider was theatrically released in 2003 in New Zealand and Germany. And if knowledge is given to everyone, we can have lots of leaders. It also won the 2003 BAFTA Childrens Award. Bibliography. Then the rope breaks as Koro tries to start the engine. 1. Pai wanted to show Koro how strong she was so he could love her. Koro leads a cultural school for the village's first-born boys, hoping to find a new leader. The book "The Whale Rider" by Witi Ihimaera is about a girl named Kahu and is in line to becoming chief in her tribe but greatly discouraged by her grandfather . Traditional myths and information about navigation are carved into the walls. Koro is enraged when he finds out, particularly when she wins a taiaha fight against Hemi. They migrated approximately 1000 years ago from Hawaiiki, an unknown Polynesian island east of New Zealand. His mother says that this stems from the fact that he is a second born son and therefor, according to Maori tradition, he can never become chief. He invited them, 70 in some versions and 140 in others, for a trip in a beautiful ocean-going canoe that he had built. It was assembled from parts of previous supercontinents by the Late Precambrian time, some 600 million years ago. All of the main characters are impacted by the dynamic between tradition and modernity. Possible Problems And soon everyone will be strong, not just the ones that have been chosen. Expectations and disappointments. Enjoy this movie with your children. At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother (Vicky Haughton) and the training of her uncle (Grant Roa) to claim her birthright. When Nanny awakens, Koro admits to her that this is entirely his fault, and that he has been stubborn and blind in the matter of Kahu. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. Read critic reviews. One relationship in particular -- that between the whale rider and his giant whale -- was exemplaryof a symbiotic connection. The whale leads the entire pod back into the sea; Pai submerges completely underwater before being thrown off the whale's back by the tide, and the spectators fear she has drowned. 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. The comment that Germany is just about as far from New Zealand as a person can get. Before the Maori found New Zealand and colonized it a little more than a thousand years ago, the only mammals that inhabited New Zealand were two species of bats. [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. Porourangi, the girls father, is his eldest grandson so he is the successor for that generation. In an attempt to help, Pai also calls out to them and they hear her call. Pai ties the rope together and then easily starts the engine. There, he meets Jeff and the two become fast friends. Touching and powerful, Whale Rider is extraordinarily well-crafted film. Many Maori carvings show fierce faces with stuck out tongues. There are very physical things that are described in the book the sweep of the bay, the island that looks like a whale, the meeting houses, the number of houses that are present and of course, the people whose legend we were telling. Back on the shore, Koro finally realizes Kahus special status and her suitability to lead. The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching . Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association: New Zealand filmmaker Jonathan Brough made the documentary film Riding the Wave: The Whale Rider Story, as well as short documentary clips about Whale Rider, to accompany the DVD.[20]. The 2002 film Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro, is an adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's 1987 novel The Whale Rider, itself based on the Mori legend of Paikea, or Kahutia Te Rangi, who rode from the ancestral home of Hawaiki to New Zealand's East Coast on the back of a whale. His anguish is now doubled as he must accept that he has been so harsh to the very person he needed so badly this whole time. For the boy who would be chief." Pai: "My name is Paikea Apirana and I come from a long line of chiefs, stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider" Pai: "There was no gladness when I was born. When Jeff is called back to his parents plantation in Papua New Guinea, he asks Rawiri to accompany him and so the two leave Australia for Papua New Guinea. TV Shows. Kahu finds Current time: coastal Maori village in New Zealand. Jeff is a once-close friend of Rawiri's; they meet in Australia, where they share an apartment and become good friends. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. The traditional Maori greeting is to press noses. When Pai is 12, Koro establishes a school to teach adolescent boys the ancient customs and to develop the skills to enable one of them to become the tribal leader. She respects and loves both her grandfather and Maori tribal traditions. [5], The Whale Rider has been a worldwide bestseller, and is the most-translated work by a New Zealand author. He drops a rock in the sea and once it has sunk to the depths, he tells the boys they must retrieve it as a test of their endurance and strength and ability to lead. Maori children were taught about their ancestors by memorizing the names of the person represented by each notch. So, it is the typical story of a young outsider making a moving film and then vanishing. Koro is the current leader of the Maori people of Whangara. As a result, Rawiri becomes overweight and escapes into alcohol or other drugs. But a lot of the credit has to go to newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes, who gives an amazingly heartbreaking performance that's incredibly compelling. Hemi..what are their disappointments? The visitors respond and the calls go back and forth as the newcomers enter the location where the meeting is to occur. 4. Hemis father comes to see his son for a brief part of the ceremony at the school and then leaves with his friends. In this story, the Taiaha, the ability to fight with war sticks is a symbol. In voiceover, Pai declares, "My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider. See production, box office & company info. 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. Koro sees that as a sign of his failure and despairs further. In the novel . Moments later, the drapes are back up in place and hanging perfectly straight, without enough time for him to re-hang the drapes. Nanny also has a deep love and softness for offspring. There is a vast difference between movies for 12-year-old girls, and movies about 12-year-old girls, and "Whale Rider" proves it. However, as they are driving away, she finds that she cannot bear to leave the sea as the whale seems to be calling her back. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. Links to the Internet See Questions Suitable for Any Film That is a Work of Fiction. But we can learn. Pai forgives him, of course, and says later that she is no prophet and that she knows the Maori people will keep going forward all together with all of our strength. Here she shows the value of humility.

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