Whale Rider doesn’t feature any Broadway-style songs or cute animal sidekicks, ... (Grant Roa) and cocky schoolmate Hemi (Mana Taumaunu), but by helping her, they bring on Koro’s wrath. It is about the struggles of a Maori girl, Paikea, to succeed her grandfather as leader of her tribe in spite of tradition dictating that the chief be male. When I was born, my twin brother died and took our mother with him” Pai: “They were waiting for their new … The Maori, the native Polynesian people of New Zealand, are looking for a male descendant of Paikea the brave leader who escaped death on the back of a whale to lead them and restore the traditions. For that reason, nobody celebrated Pai's birth. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. They remain liminal due being weak-minded and scared of the consequences they face, goes along with society -Hemi-Haemon: Both are supported by patriarch, but ostracized for helping protagonist (girls)-Creon-Koro: Both strongly connected to … In the film Whale Rider depicts a culture in transition. Tribal Indentity Male/Female The whole film is predicated on the division of roles. Each chief in the tribe is supposed to be a direct descendant of the whale rider. Koro Pai’s grandfather has been waiting for the first born of the new generation who should be chief. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Written and directed by Niki Caro. Koro couldn’t accept the fact that his son Porourangi, left after Pai’s birth to go and start a new life as an artist. Based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Māori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. The film was a … The strings of the ancient ancestors have been ripped apart and only Paikea can weave them back … Pai's father Porourangi (Cliff … She’s proved countless times that she is more than capable for the role. The film is about a girl, Paikea Apirana, played by Keisha Castle-Hughes in her debut role, who battles to gain her grandfather’s respect, and to become the chief of the tribe. Unfortunately the tradition was broken when Pai’s twin … About the Author. Now you can continue to download Whale Rider film for free. come it should still feel like the present day. The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching back to the whale … What makes it worse is Hemi defended her by saying, “it wasn’t her fault” (Whale Rider, 2002) meaning he acknowledged his own defeat. The importance of myth and stories which shape the lives of traditional people will become clear … There is a vast difference between movies for 12-year-old girls, and movies about 12-year-old girls, and 'Whale Rider' proves it. “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. Who is upset for the fact that his grandson (Pai’s brother) died during child birth. Students can examine their own concepts of gender roles as they watch entrenched sexism diminish through the course of the film. Setting. Hemi is sympathetic towards Pai and shows her how to hold a taiaha. By Christine Jap 9H Character Analysis of Koro is a very stubborn, strict, serious chief of the New Zealand coastal village. The Whale, in turn, was saved from death and loss of meaning in the modern world. She shows heavy signs of strength, when able to beat Hemi with the taiha. Whangara, New Zealand. 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. The surviving girl is called Pai. Home; Oral ; Maori culture; main characters; Narrative Focus; Powerful scenes; Themes; Film motifs; Production elements; Tasks; Powerful Scenes . What it means to be a member of a community versus a member of society. He teaches … The “Whale Rider”, filmed in New Zealand and directed by Niki Caro, is a film based on the novel of the same name, by Witi Ihimaera. The girl grows up … Many of the extras in the film were actual residents of the town Whangara. Paikea - the young girl is the central character. The whale in this context of Whangara takes on the mythical origins of the Taniwha but also serves as a lineage to Paikea's mythological escape story. When Koro gets frustrated from the motor on the boat failing to start, Paikea … Grief-stricken, … In the story of whale rider it is essential that Koro and the town accept Paikea as the true leader. When Pai is found and brought to the hospital, Koro declares her the leader and asks her forgiveness. Men do not cry and women do not … One young girl dared to confront the past, change the present and determine the future. Whale Rider, the movie--winner of the Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Audience Award, the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award, and the Rotterdam International Film Festival Canal Plus Audience Award. The whale leads the entire pod back into the sea; Paikea nearly drowns in the process. 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. Synopsis. It is an emotional story of the bond between a grandfather and grandchild during a social transformation in a community. By tradition, the leader … The story takes place in New Zealand where the Maori people of a small village claim descent from the Whale Rider, Paikea. Whale Rider [Maori title: Te Kaieke Tohora] is a 2002 film based on the book The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. Whale Rider The “Whale Rider”, filmed in New Zealand and directed by Niki Caro, is a film based on the novel of the same name, by Witi Ihimaera. Mana Taumana as Hemi; FILM SYNOPSIS In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. The Polyspherical head needed less metal and was narrower due to using only one … He dominates in everything that they do. The movie, which takes place in the present day in New Zealand, begins with the birth of twins. In every generation for more than one thousand years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title. Her family are the other main characters: Koro (her Grandfather), Nanny Flowers (her … The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. Whale Rider is a 2002 film in which Pai, a young girl living in coastal New Zealand fights against her patriarchal community in order to fulfil her destiny of... Save Paper; 4 Page; 839 Words; Whale Rider 3 . 6. Porourangi had the family help and community that Keiko did not have Pai is raised in a web of local community members with group activities that bring everyone together in the meeting house or the … Unfortunately the tradition was broken when Pai’s twin … Main Characters. The Maori people faces a crisis as the current leader’s firstborn grandchild, a baby boy dies at birth while the second born twin, a baby girl survives. 1 … It is the present day, but the director has been careful not to be specific. This would have gone to Pai's twin brother, but he died at birth. Paikea called for the whales and the ancient … The Taniwha serves as the last test for Paikea in the film. Many of the extras in the film were actual residents of the town Whangara. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. When she goes out to sea, Nanny Flowers shows Koro the whale tooth which Pai had previously recovered. Film #26 among my 52 Films by Women 2019 Based upon Witi Ihimaera's 1985 novel "The Whale Rider," this family drama from New Zealand writer-director Niki Caro brings us the story of a Māori girl named Paikea "Pai" Apirana (Keisha Castle-Hughes). With Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis. PERSONAL REACTIONS The Whale Rider is a pleasant family movie with well developed characters and beautiful setting. Keiko vs Porourangi (nobody knows vs. whale rider) Pais father is not around but Pai is growing up in the care of her grandparents Its okay for Porourangi to leave because there is appropriate care for Pai. When he believes in something, he never changes his mind. The film was a coproduction between New Zealand … It saves her from the patriarchal system and shows Koro she is the leader. 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 Māori 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.. It is based on the novel by Witi Ihimaera. The boy and the mother die. The film ends with the village, including Pai's father, uncle, and grandparents, celebrating her status as leader, as the … This film combines elements of history, traditions, depicting them from the point of view of a child, that sees the world not in black and white terms. "The current-production "Hemi" V8 with its pinched chamber, does not have true hemispherical combustion chambers despite the name; rather, it bears a closer resemblance to the mid-1950s Polyspherical chamber, which Chrysler engineers developed as a lower-cost alternative head for their V8 engines. Login with Facebook Koro Pai’s grandfather has been waiting for the first born of the new generation who would be chief. The Maori, the native Polynesian people of New Zealand, are looking for a male descendant of Paikea the brave leader who escaped death on the back of a whale to lead them and restore the traditions. Read Wikipedia in Modernized UI. (The topic – her respect for her Koro despite his resistance to her). The film is about a girl, Paikea Apirana, played by Keisha Castle-Hughes in her debut role, who battles to gain her grandfather’s respect, and to become the chief of the tribe. Whale Rider invites the viewer into a distinct story-world - one in which the community is stronger than the individual. Paikea has every right to be the chief, she is a descendant of the whale rider after all, but since she has a different gender she has decreased in importance and of value in Koro’s mind. I found that a theme of female empowerment was more visible in the movie than the issue … You have broken the tapu of the school!” (Whale Rider, 2002). How was the tension created? On the other hand, it is a drama about relationship of a young girl and her grandfather. “Whale Rider” is a contemporary re-telling of the 1000-year-old legend about legendary first ancestor named Paikea. By tradition the heir to the leadership of the Maori tribe has to be the first born son- a direct patrilineal descendant of Paikea. By tradition, the leader of the tribe … The girl, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) survives. Her grandfather Koro Apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. WITI IHIMAERA, a prolific writer and editor in New Zealand, is the author of numerous short-story collections, novels, anthologies, and nonfiction titles. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered … Whale Rider is a film directed by Niki Caro (2002). Character Analysis of Koro from the film "Whale Rider" by Niki Caro. Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand-German family drama film directed by Niki Caro, based on the novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera.The film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Māori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. In years to . Paikea’s speech –What made it so powerful? In the film Whale Rider depicts a culture in transition. This brought a lot of trouble between Koro and his son, leading Pai to leave with her father, but returning after she heard the … Directed by Niki Caro. She was born a twin, but her brother died in childbirth, taking their mother with him. He is firm and forceful in everything that he says … The Chief’s eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins - a boy and a girl, but the boy and his mother die in childbirth. (Film cut between … Contents. Pages: 3 (1108 words) Published: October 10, 2007. Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand-German family drama film written and directed by Niki Caro. The Whale Rider is about a young girl named Pai, who tries hard to please her grandfather Koro. Two scenes from the movie Whale Rider.Keisha Castle-Hughes gives an excellent performance in this movie. The grandfather was infuriated because according to him she had broken the traditional belief system that males are supposed to be the undefeatable ones. Children might comment on the tension as to whether or not her Koro would attend. The time is now. character relationships from Antigone and Whale Rider-Nanny-Ismene: Both characters want to help protagonist but are unable to due to their respective weights. Login with Gmail.