Paikea became the ruler of the people who lived on the islands. So, it is the typical story of a young outsider making a moving film and then vanishing. Coming Soon. Though the film brims with authenticity, it is almost too authentic. 2. It is based on the novel by Witi Ihimaera. In every generation for more than one thousand years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title. ", The film had budget of NZ$9,235,000. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Coming Soon. 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. Moral-Ethical Emphasis 10,000 children were auditioned before narrowing it down to 12. This conflict can be seen in Native American cultures today and is often the source of individual as well as tribal difficulties. . 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. 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. Jeff is a once-close friend of Rawiri's; they meet in Australia, where they share an apartment and become good friends. 2. 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. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. A few years pass in this way. Finally, the Whale Rider script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Niki Caro movie with Keisha Castle-Hughes. 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. She is a stubborn, determined, and brave women not afraid to stand up to her husband. Other songs heard in the film include:[21], This article is about the film. 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. Uncle Rawiri is an interesting character and in many ways a foil for Paikea. subsistance is based on. As in many cultures, the value of ancestors and a reverence for the past shape Maori consciousness. 6. Whale Rider [Maori title: Te Kaieke Tohora] is a 2002 film . Traditional myths and information about navigation are carved into the walls. She sympathizes with the difficulty of her husbands life, telling her granddaughter, Hes got a lot of rules to live by.. PG-13 (Momentary Drug Reference|Brief Language), Kids & family, Whale Rider is a film directed by Niki Caro (2002). Overall, I liked Whale Rider, but I don't think I fully got it. Reremoana is Rawiri's cousin living in Australia, she has--according to Rawiri--changed her name and appearance and has assimilated into the big city culture of Sydney. Pais defeat of Hemi is a symbol that she is the leader for whom Koro is searching. Possible Problems 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. Social-Emotional Learning A collapsing of the ice there and the life-threatening nature of this collapse forces him to make a snap decision in guiding his herd. Finally, the tribe would not have had a leader that it needed, had the prejudice against having a female chief been maintained. "[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." What does it symbolize? Two additional interesting assignments are: A. 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. There, he meets Jeff and the two become fast friends. He said of Castle-Hughes: "This is a movie star. She respects and loves both her grandfather and Maori tribal traditions. At this point, even Koro understands that a leader may emerge, not from tradition, but in the form of a young girl who has the character, skill and desire to be chief. Director Niki Caro Writers Niki Caro Witi Ihimaera (book "The Whale Rider") Stars Keisha Castle-Hughes Rawiri Paratene Vicky Haughton See production, box office & company info Watch on Freevee The father and grandfather argue 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. The introduction will also lead to aha! moments as students recognize aspects of Maori culture described in the lecture while watching the film. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. The time is now. Main character and the new 'whale rider' Born into a line of chiefs Has all the qualities of a leader Struggles against gender stereotypes and Koro Koro Chief Pai's grandfather; loves Pai but clashes with her He raises Pai after her mother dies during childbirth and her father (Porourangi) leaves to go overseas Nanny Flowers Back home he cracks under all the pressure and weeps. The film's plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana ("Pai"). B. Koros reaction to what Pai had done is yet another symbol. The tribe and the Maori families are breaking apart because the men are leaving. Parenting Points Titre original: Whale Rider Popularit: 14.114 Dure: 97 Minutes Slogan: Dans les voies des anciens, elle a trouv un espoir pour l'avenir. Porourangi, the girls father, is his eldest grandson so he is the successor for that generation. 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. The next evening an even bigger event occurs, this time witnessed not by everyone but just by the small Maori community within the town. This symbolizes his inability to lead the tribe. All the whales of a herd come and to the beach and strand themselves there. An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes. 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 film contains music by Lisa Gerrard, released on the album Whalerider on 7 July 2003. He is accidentally killed by Jeff in a car accident. Other characters have disappointments too, e.g. Pa : l'lue d'un peuple nouveau regarder . [14] The Los Angeles Times's Kenneth Turan praised Caro for her "willingness to let this story tell itself in its own time and the ability to create emotion that is intense without being cloying or dishonest. At that time, the fauna of New Zealand was dominated by insects and birds. He is the father of Kahu, thus making Kahu the eldest child of the successor -- a fact which eventually forces Koro to question his opposition to female leadership in the group. 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. 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. Then the story shifts back to Kahu, whose mother dies within a year of Kahus birth. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him. Students can then be asked to take a deeper look and research questions that have been discussed in class. This can poison intergroup and personal relations. 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 within the tribe. Describe the attributes of this character, how they relate to the themes of the film, and how Uncle Rawiri is a foil for his niece. Discussion Questions Relating to Ethical Issues will facilitate the use of this film to teach ethical principles and critical viewing. However, no matter how many leadership qualities Rawiri may possess, he can never be chief because he is a second-born son. They may want to freeze-frame a moment in the film to illustrate a point on cinematography or use the internet to present visuals in support of the history of a culture or a concept. 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 Chief's eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins - a boy and a girl, but the boy and his . 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, Pai is strong. fight. Jeff's mother lives on a plantation in Papua New Guinea with her husband. 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.. Identify some of the scenes in which this struggle is shown. Then a pod of whales, an animal revered by the Maori, beaches itself on the sand near the tribes home. He is the grandson of Koro and thus the uncle of Kahu. Pai is interested in the lessons, but is discouraged and scolded by Koro for doing so. [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. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! Based on the 1987 novel The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Mori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. A small coastal community of Maoris deal daily with being New Zealanders while not being entirely so, particularly hard for a young pubescent lass ostracized because of her sex, despite that she offers hope of continuing traditions. Paikea Apiranas grandfather is the Chief of a small Maori tribe in modern-day New Zealand. 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. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Maori tattoos are famous for their intricate designs, size, and beauty. 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 results of their research can be presented to the class in oral reports or serve as the basis for a writing assignment. Cebeci, Ali. Pai, the protagonist, briefly explains the story of Paikeia, the legendary Whale Rider who founded Maori civilization. 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. The visitors respond and the calls go back and forth as the newcomers enter the location where the meeting is to occur. They migrated approximately 1000 years ago from Hawaiiki, an unknown Polynesian island east of New Zealand. Factory released a 15th anniversary Blu-ray of Whale Rider on their Shout! Waiting to be filled up. The movie won many awards at film festivals. 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. Koro leads a cultural school for the village's first-born boys, hoping to find a new leader. "The Whale Rider Characters". Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. He is also skilled in the art of fighting with war sticks, which in the movie is a symbol for being able to be a Maori chief. She finds the rei puta, which means that she is the rightful leader. Possible Problems Kahu agrees to come with the herd in the hopes that she will thus save them and save her own people. See also Assignments, Projects, and Activities for Use With Any Film that is a Work of Fiction. Maori children were taught about their ancestors by memorizing the names of the person represented by each notch. Drama Family A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Living in the village or even in New Zealand would have reminded him of this loss. Whale Rider ver Whale Rider en lnea gratis | Mire pelculas en lnea a travs de los mejores videos HD de 1080p gratuitos en computadoras de escritorio, computadoras porttiles, tabletas, iPhone, iPad, Mac Pro y ms. ----- 6. Parenting Points , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. He has opened his mind and abandoned his rigid adherence to the old rules. The symbolic meaning stated by Koro is that each strand of the rope represents an ancestor with the rope being the tribe. Plan and present a debate on the elimination of gender roles in society. Pai, in an attempt to bridge the rift that has formed, invites Koro to be her guest of honour at a concert of Mori chants that her school is putting on. Unknown to all, she had won an interschool speech contest with a touching dedication to Koro and the traditions of the village. The old whale remembers the days when man and animal were united and in communication, but those are long past. 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. And if knowledge is given to everyone, we can have lots of leaders. Pai confidently declares she'll find it and dives into the water. Overjoyed, the whale returns to sea and it descends back into the water with the rest of the herd and Kahu in tow. Her Grandfather and other sexist men would not have allowed themselves to see Pais full personhood and ability. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Kahu Kahu is the chief protagonist of the story. 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. a term of reference for of this tribe who have Paikea as their founding ancestor. Hemis father comes to see his son for a brief part of the ceremony at the school and then leaves with his friends. The Question and Answer section for The Whale Rider is a great the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Whangara, New Zealand. Before Europeans arrived, the Maori language was not written. [2] It received $2.5 million from the New Zealand Film Production Fund. Our ancestor, Paikea. Whale Rider premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2002. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. 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. GradeSaver, 6 April 2015 Web. At one point, Paikea decides to live with her father because her grandfather says he doesn't want her. The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. A present day New Zealand community of Maori tribe people is waiting for the sign of a new chief to be born and lead the village and it's community to greatness. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. Cebeci, Ali. When Koro walks away, Pai climbs onto the back of the largest whale (traditionally said to belong to the legendary Paikea) on the beach and coaxes it to re-enter the ocean. This custom died out by the end of the 1800s, although Maori continued tattooing other parts of their bodies. Prejudiced societies also lack a fundamental sense of justice and fairness. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. The characters struggle with several issues faced by indigenous people all over the globe as they seek to integrate what remains of their traditional ways into modern society. It is leading its herd in search of safer waters, but at the same time it struggles to come to terms with its deep love for the ancient whale rider, now long dead, who once had been its dearest companion. Pai is originally born a twin, but her twin brother and her mother died during childbirth. Such is the case with Keisha Castle Hughes. The focus shifts to a herd of whales. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! All rights reserved. Touching and powerful, Whale Rider is extraordinarily well-crafted film. Not affiliated with Harvard College. 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. The movie was based on the novel, The Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera. It was shot on location in Whangara, the setting of the novel. The research topics are: 1. the history of the Maori people, including controversies and the current effort to seek redress for land confiscation; 2. the lives of whales, including the effect of the whaling industry on the species; 3. the art of tattoo, including cultural traditions as well as artistic or social customs associated with this form of body art; 4. culture conflict as it is experienced today by indigenous people, including efforts to transcend the social barriers that preclude full assimilation and any efforts of indigenous people to remain autonomous; 5. what it means to be Polynesian, including the common qualities and unique variations of the cultures of the various Polynesian Islands, paying special attention to the history and culture of Polynesians in the Hawaiian Islands; 6. myths that explain the origin and existence of a people. Waiting for someone to love it. Paikea: And he came on the back of a whale. What is revealed about Pai and her uncle in this episode? We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. Thus, sending Porourangi to Germany advances the plot. The message is clear and requires no discussion. Then the story ends with Kahu telling her dear great-grandfather that she can still hear the singing of the whales. The Maori were the first human beings to live in New Zealand and brought with them a highly evolved Stone Age culture. This highlights Paikeas decision to struggle against the fate that would have been hers had she not become Chief. A young girl might fulfill a prophecy in an indigenous New Zealand community. Not affiliated with Harvard College. 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. Nanny orders Rawiri not to tell Koro of this strange incident, as he is not yet ready to accept Kahus special status. 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. 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. The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. More books than SparkNotes. The bull whale eventually agrees and they return Kahu, now unconscious, to Whangara. She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. The story begins with a focus on the ancient days, when nature and all wildlife were excitedly waiting for the coming of man. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Just confirm how you got your ticket. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Part I begins by refocusing on the herd of whales. [2][3] In 2002 it was adapted into a film, Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro.[4]. 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. Moral-Ethical Emphasis, Assignments and Projects Not only is this the land of her father's family, but it is also . We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. See Hongi Example #1 for an image of the traditional Maori greeting. " Women, like men, should try to do the impossible, and when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others."-. In 2005, the film was named on the BFI List of the 50 Films You Should See By the Age of 14. 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 . More books than SparkNotes. Enjoy this movie with your children. Click here for a still picture of two women calling a karanga. . [2] [3] In 2002 it was adapted into a film, Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro. [5] The film was shot in Whangara, Te Tai Rwhiti, and in Auckland. The story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her .