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Once there, she begins to explore her new, seemingly-isolated surroundings, and its secrets. The whale leads the entire pod back into the sea; Pai submerges completely underwater, and the spectators wonder if she has drowned but are relieved when she comes back above sea level. Also, the largest whale traditionally belongs to the legendary Paikea. The focus shifts to a herd of whales. The first 2/3 of the movie is excellently done but fairly familiar. "[12] Ebert later went on to name it as one of the ten best films of 2003. 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. When Koro returns from a trip he had been on during the ordeal, he remarks with great anguish that this is a sign for them. 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 film was a coproduction between New Zealand and Germany. Part II begins with another short focus on the whale herd. (2002). While her grandfather, Koro, later forms an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also cond… Then man arrived from the east, and the relationship between nature and man throve. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny. 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. 10,000 children were auditioned before narrowing it down to 12. Whale Rider 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. This love remains unreciprocated, as Koro actively pushes her away. Pai is female and so technically cannot inherit the leadership. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. However, he is unable to let go, and thoughts of returning to the place of his youth at whatever cost gnaw at his heart. One relationship in particular -- that between the whale rider and his giant whale -- was exemplary of a symbiotic connection. 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 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. One of the students, Hemi, is also sympathetic towards her. A young, recently-orphaned girl is sent to England after living in India all of her life. He teaches the boys to use a taiaha (fighting stick), which is traditionally reserved for males. Koro sees that as a sign of his failure and despairs further. During the course of his stay, Rawiri has to face racist behavior from Jeff’s social circle, especially his mother. He travels to Sydney, Australia, where he meets several of his cousins and notes that they seem to have drifted away from Maori cultural traditions and have fully embraced the lifestyle of the big city. Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand-German family drama film written and directed by Niki Caro. This only upsets Koro more, as he was hoping for a male descendent. Her speech expresses her utmost desire to please her great-grandfather and to uphold the Maori culture. Pai is female and so technically cannot inherit the leadership. While her grandfather, Koro, later forms an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also condemns her and blames her for conflicts happening within the tribe. Pai, in an attempt to bridge the rift that has formed, invites Koro to be her guest of honour at a concert of Māori chants that her school is putting on. The story begins with a focus on the ancient days, when nature and all wildlife were excitedly waiting for the coming of man. The focus shifts to a herd of whales. Now, so many years after their separation, the nostalgia for their time spent together cuts away at the old bull whale. When Koro walks away, Pai climbs onto the back of the largest whale at the location and coaxes it to re-enter the ocean. Meanwhile, Wallace has invented a giant pair of robotic trousers, designed to take Gromit for walks. He said of Castle-Hughes: "This is a movie star. 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. Back on the shore, Koro finally realizes Kahu’s special status and her suitability to lead. [8] The 60 ft (18 m)-long waka seen at the end of the film was made in two halves in Auckland before being transported to Whangara. That's because it has a strong story that deals with universal themes like family, tradition, childhood and rebellion. Koro leads a cultural school for the village's first-born boys, hoping to find a new leader. "[15], The film has also been discussed, and praised, widely within academia. With Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis. 33 wins & 34 nominations. The whale mothers look over their young while the single leader whale—the bull whale—reminisces about his own youth so long ago, and the precious time he spent with the whale rider. A few years pass in this way. Pai feels that she can become the leader (although no woman has ever done so) and is determined to succeed. 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. "Whale Rider" can accurately be called an art film, but it's also one that will appeal to mainstream audiences. 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. Eventually this racism, combined with Rawiri’s desire to see home again impel him to leave Papua New Guinea and head back to Whangara, New Zealand. Kahu does not mind all this anger from Koro though, and she continues to fervently seek his love and acceptance. Title: The story of Sir J.M. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. Pai is interested in the lessons, but is discouraged and scolded by Koro for doing so. 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. Based on 144 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 90%, with an average score of 7.7 as of June 2010. Rawiri, Porourangi and Nanny all attend, but the seat marked “reserved” next to Nanny—a measure Kahu herself had taken to guarantee a spot for Koro—remains conspicuously empty throughout the ceremony. Henderson Valley Studios, Hickory Avenue, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand. He admonishes Pai against touching the largest whale because she has "done enough" damage with her presumption. 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. The bull whale eventually agrees and they return Kahu, now unconscious, to Whangara. The whale mistakes Kahu for its old master—Kahu’s ancient ancestor, Kahutia Te Rangi. When Pai is found and brought to the hospital, Koro declares her the leader and asks for her forgiveness. The Question and Answer section for The Whale Rider is a great She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. 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. 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, Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film, Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whale_Rider&oldid=976481534, Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film winners, Use New Zealand English from November 2012, All Wikipedia articles written in New Zealand English, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2017, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 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 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 narrator of this time period is Rawiri, her uncle. This FAQ is empty. The world premiere was on 9 September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. One day Pai, her uncle, her uncle's girl friend Shilo, and others take the boat to where Koro flung the rei puta into the sea. The bull whale pulls itself onto shore and strands itself there, waiting for its death. Check out some of the IMDb editors' favorites movies and shows to round out your Watchlist. She finds the rei puta, which means that she is the rightful leader. Shout Factory released a 15th anniversary Blu-ray of Whale Rider on their Shout Select imprint on 22 August 2017. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. Nanny does not think Koro is ready to accept this and does not tell him. “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. Then, in the last third, when the whales actually come into play, the story enters territory that is thrillingly unpredictable and incredibly powerful. Unknown to all, she had won an interschool speech contest with a touching dedication to Koro and the traditions of the village. One day, Koro takes some of his star pupils out to sea. 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. The waka was given to the Whangara community after filming concluded.[5]. From The Virgin Suicides to On the Rocks, IMDb dives into the cinematic stylings of Oscar-winning director Sofia Coppola. GradeSaver, 6 April 2015 Web. Part I begins by refocusing on the herd of whales. The story is unique and unpredictable but also comfortingly familiar. The Bull Whale. Jeff’s 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.

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