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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. As for Kahu, she has returned to stay with her father longer-term. More books than SparkNotes. What does it symbolize? He admonishes Pai against touching the largest whale because she has "done enough" damage with her presumption. 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. Maori consciousness is shaped by reverence for ancestors and the past. If we'd gone somewhere else and tried to manufacture the surroundings and the ambience, then I think it would have been noticeable in the picture. The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching . Discussion Questions 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. Amelia Earhart. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! It is Pai who saves the whales and, in so doing convinces, her grandfather that she should be Chief. Other characters have disappointments too, e.g. Just confirm how you got your ticket. Porourangi later tells his daughter that the old man is looking for something that no longer exists. Click the card to flip . 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. Pais grandmother can be highly critical of Koro, yet she tolerates him using humor. The plants and animals in New Zealand have evolved into forms that are slightly different from those on the other land masses. He is looking for a suitable successor, which according to local culture ought to be passed from eldest child to eldest child. Koro calls a meeting of the local Maori people and impresses upon them the spiritual significance of this event. The revered figure of Whangara's Maori people and Kahu's direct ancestor, the whale rider develops an extremely close bond with a whale. There, he meets Jeff and the two become fast friends. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Prejudiced societies also lack a fundamental sense of justice and fairness. The film won a number of international film-festival awards, including: At the age of 13, Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, becoming the youngest actress ever nominated for the award at that time (breaking Isabelle Adjani's record at the age of 20). A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. However, unlike Paikea, Uncle Rawiri accepts his fate, becoming overweight and escaping into alcohol and drugs. 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 . This is a symbol for her ability to lead the tribe in a way that Koro cannot. Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea; Rawiri Paratene as Koro; Vicky Haughton as Nanny Flowers; Cliff Curtis as Porourangi; Grant Roa as Uncle Rawiri; and Mana Taumaunu as Hemi. She respects and loves both her grandfather and Maori tribal traditions. The whale mistakes Kahu for its old masterKahus ancient ancestor, Kahutia Te Rangi. "The Whale Rider Summary". Plan and present a debate on the elimination of gender roles in society. It was last revised on July 21, 2011. 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. All of the problems with prejudice are shown in this film. But a lot of the credit has to go to newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes, who gives an amazingly heartbreaking performance that's incredibly compelling. Encouraged by the Labour Party and union bureaucracy, they turned Maori workers instead towards the struggle for indigenous rightsin particular land rightsand the rediscovery of tribal identity. The film contains music by Lisa Gerrard, released on the album Whalerider on 7 July 2003. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. Paikea: There was no gladness when I was born. The film's plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana ("Pai"). [5], The Whale Rider has been a worldwide bestseller, and is the most-translated work by a New Zealand author. Koro is enraged when he finds out, particularly when she wins a taiaha fight against Hemi. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. According to myth, Paikea was the founder of the Maori people. Rawiri is the primary narrator of the story. At one point, Paikea decides to live with her father because her grandfather says he doesn't want her. The time is now. The late mother of Kahu and wife of Porourangi, Rehua has the same connection to Muriwai as Nanny Flowers, and demonstrates her own sort of independence by naming her daughter after a male hero of the Whangara people. The symbolic meaning stated by Koro is that each strand of the rope represents an ancestor with the rope being the tribe. He is influenced by the symbols of the unfolding world around him. and the For example, Koro calls Porourangis art souvenirs. The old man blames Porourangi for not producing a son and heir to the chieftainship. 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. [6] Producer John Barnett said "This novel was set in Whangara and it would almost have been heresy to shoot anywhere else. 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. As demonstrated throughout the movie, all People share the same type of emotions: they get upset, angry, sad, happy, indiffeent and happy. Before Europeans arrived, the Maori language was not written. He needs to find individuals who will be able to carry the burden of leadership and navigate the Maori people through the chaotic waters of modernity. In this, he is like Paikea who cannot be a chief simply because of her birth: she is a woman. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. 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. Back in Whangara, big events soon take place. Identify some of the scenes in which this struggle is shown. In this story, the Taiaha, the ability to fight with war sticks is a symbol. She sympathizes with the difficulty of her husbands life, telling her granddaughter, Hes got a lot of rules to live by.. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. They organize all available vehicles and manpower down on the beach and attempt all sorts of measures to get the bull whale back to sea, but the giant creature stubbornly resists and continues to wait for itself to die on the shore. Each time she comes she expresses love for her family there, but special deep love for Koro her great-grandfather. Maori culture was male-dominated, with women generally serving in subordinate roles. 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. Returning to Kahus tale, Rawiri narrates that he decided to see a bit of the world when Kahu was in her fourth year. Possible Problems Shout! Plot Summary of Whale Rider 1. Then he is excluded from the boat. "[16], The film has also been discussed and praised widely within academia. Coming Soon, Regal Give it a location, a full geography, a population and a myth that explains how the tribe arrived on the island and what traditions it follows. 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. One day Pai, her uncle, her uncle's girlfriend Shilo, and others take the boat to where Koro flung the rei puta into the sea. [4] Plot [ edit] Carving of Paikea at Whangara 's marae The brief introduction suggested below will orient students to the film and provide background about Maori culture. With the loss of the rei puta, Koro in despair calls out the ancient ones, the whales. hunting and gathering and some horticulture. This symbolizes his inability to lead the tribe. and that The Whale Rider is emblematic of "An emerging middle-class layer of tribal leaders and youth, radicalised in the late 1960s, [who] intervened to abort the development of a unified class consciousness within the working class as a whole. Whale Rider was released on DVD and VHS on 28 October 2004 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. See Questions Suitable for Any Film That is a Work of Fiction. Which of the evils of prejudice are shown operating in this movie? Using the Movie in the Classroom Titre original: Whale Rider Popularit: 14.114 Dure: 97 Minutes Slogan: Dans les voies des anciens, elle a trouv un espoir pour l'avenir. This only upsets Koro more, as he was hoping for a male descendent. Germany is very far away from the life of the tribe, in terms of both distance and culture. This is an echo of the earlier symbol of the rope. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. 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. Dont worry, it wont take long. Towards the end of the year, Kahu invites her family to a school ceremony that will include cultural presentations. Invent a fictitious island inhabited by a tribe you create. "[12][13] Ebert later went on to name it as one of the ten best films of 2003. He is the grandson of Koro and thus the uncle of Kahu. 7. At their head is a great bull whale with an ancient sacred Maori tattoo. PG-13 (Momentary Drug Reference|Brief Language), Kids & family, 2. comes - then goes off so soon with his mates. Whale Rider - Full Cast & Crew. The movie, which takes place in the present day in New . Discussion questions and suggested responses are provided below. In desperation, Kahu swims out to the whale and climbs up its back after communicating with it. Select imprint on 22 August 2017. But then the story shifts to Kahu. Viewers also learn that Uncle Rawiri was once a champion with this traditional Maori way of fighting, although now he appears to be lazy, fat, and a user of drugs and alcohol. 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. 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. 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. 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. Anthropologist A. Asbjrn Jn discussed a range of Maori tribal traditions that resonate within the film, while noting links between the release of Whale Rider and increases in both New Zealand's whale watching tourism industry and conservation efforts. Her deepest wish is to please her great-grandfather, Koro--a struggle which spans the length of the book--and she remains dedicated to her Maori heritage and culture. The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching . Part II begins with another short focus on the whale herd. What idea is conveyed by this scene? Suduiko, Aaron ed. B. His response to the strong ties that he feels to Maori culture and the pressure to be chief is to make a clean break. ----- 6. The film Whale Rider harnesses the power of its character Paikea, her elders, and other film techniques to show a huge transition from traditional principles to modern ones, while still adhering to the cultural significance of the Whale Rider. Whale Rider was theatrically released in 2003 in New Zealand and Germany. The women let the men think that the men are the bosses. Moments later, the drapes are back up in place and hanging perfectly straight, without enough time for him to re-hang the drapes. The symbol is that even with everyone in the tribe pulling together, the purpose cannot be accomplished without the proper leader. 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. Called Ta moko,, they consist of important symbols that help individuals express their unique identities. But her Grandfather, Koro Apirana, wanted a male chief for his tradition. Later during the taiaha lesson, and when he and Paikea. A man so old that he now has great-grandchildren, Koro is weighed down with the task of finding the right successors to his chieftaincy. [17], Whale Rider grossed US$41 million worldwide.[3]. Currently you are able to watch "Whale Rider" streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla or for free with ads on Peacock, Peacock Premium, The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, Freevee. 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. As a result, Rawiri becomes overweight and escapes into alcohol or other drugs. [2] It received $2.5 million from the New Zealand Film Production Fund. The story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her . Paikea: And he came on the back of a whale. The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. She is attuned to the traditional Mori way of life, and may have inherited the ability to speak to whales. Koro is the current leader of the Maori people of Whangara. Pai ties the rope together and then easily starts the engine. Based on 155 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 91%, with an average score of 7.77 as of October 2020. Drama, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, All Upcoming Disney Movies: New Disney Live-Action, Animation, Pixar, Marvel, 20th Century, And Searchlight, Filmmaker Selects: Gina Prince-Bythewoods 10 Movies For Womens History Month, 87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us. Waiting to be filled up. The narrator of this time period is Rawiri, her uncle. It was shot on location in Whangara, the setting of the novel. Porourangi, the girls father, is his eldest grandson so he is the successor for that generation. 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. While it is never explicitly mentioned, Jeff and his parents are presumably of European origin and are not natives of Papua New Guinea. Social-Emotional Learning 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 had budget of NZ$9,235,000. The is shown by the last scene in which Pais grandfather, now fully accepting the idea that she will be Chief, smiles lovingly at his granddaughter. [2] Additional financing came from ApolloMedia, Filmstiftung NRW, the New Zealand Film Commission and NZ On Air. These scenes include those that show Maori families as dysfunctional or Maori people abusing alcohol. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. The villagers desperately try to help the whales, pulling together as implied by the tribal custom, becoming the living image of the strands that make up the rope of a united village. [6] In 1995 it was translated into Mori by Tmoti Kretu, as Te kaieke tohor. This can poison intergroup and personal relations. However, this canoe was designed to have a hole that Rua-Tapu kept sealed with the heel of his foot. She asks Rawiri not to tell their grandparents about her current condition and how her identity has changed. Nanny also has a deep love and softness for offspring. . 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. This can be seen when the women play cards and joke about the men. Best Actress nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes stars in this moving coming-of-age story, set in a modern-day Maori village. GradeSaver, 6 April 2015 Web. Pai, the protagonist, briefly explains the story of Paikeia, the legendary Whale Rider who founded Maori civilization. 8. As a result,Koro spends a lot of time training him and bringing him along on trips pertaining to Maori legal and social issues. Then a pod of whales, an animal revered by the Maori, beaches itself on the sand near the tribes home. The Whale Rider Quotes and Analysis. However, he wants to be an artist and this causes conflict which he resolves by moving to Germany. In an attempt to help, Pai also calls out to them and they hear her call. Another example of family dysfunction is Hemis father. 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. Other songs heard in the film include:[21], This article is about the film. "The Whale Rider Characters". He invited them, 70 in some versions and 140 in others, for a trip in a beautiful ocean-going canoe that he had built. 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. Pai is female and so technically cannot inherit the leadership. Kahu does not mind all this anger from Koro though, and she continues to fervently seek his love and acceptance. By creating an account, you agree to the Her mother's last words are "Paikeia. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. When Pai is born, her mother and twin brother both die. In the novel . Koro leads a cultural school for the village's first-born boys, hoping to find a new leader. Show in your presentation the great variety found in the various myths and make clear what each myth attempts to explain. (Note that Koro deems the boy Hemi to be unsuitable for leadership because Paikea, a mere girl, bests him in a contest using war sticks.) The story describes the efforts of an indigenous group living within modern Western society to continue their traditions while assimilating some aspects of the dominant culture. 6. Such is the case with Keisha Castle Hughes. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and I'll be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a . 3. In the film Whale Rider depicts a culture in transition. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Her koro Apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. TWM has not read the book. For the film, see, Storylines Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand Notable Books List, "The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera Read by Jay Lagaaia | Audiobook Review", "Reading Resolution: "The Whale Rider" by Witi Ihimaera", "The Most Translated Books From Every Country in the World", "Te Kaieke Tohor by Witi Ihimaera, n Tmoti Kretu i whakamori", "Remarkable Kiwis win the non-fiction Children's Choice award | Scoop News", "Film-making in the service of identity politics", "The God of Small Things to Shuggie Bain: the Queen's jubilee book list", "The Big Jubilee Read: Books from 1982 to 1991", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Whale_Rider&oldid=1088553471, This page was last edited on 18 May 2022, at 18:34. The visitors respond and the calls go back and forth as the newcomers enter the location where the meeting is to occur. TV Shows. She clearly asserts that tradition can hinder progress. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. [4] Casting director Diana Rowan visited numerous schools to find an actress to play Pai. 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. Back home he cracks under all the pressure and weeps. Factory released a 15th anniversary Blu-ray of Whale Rider on their Shout! Their way of life is being put to the test: they can either save the whale or fail and fall into ruin. Although Pai works hard to earn Koros respect, she is rebuffed each time she tries to master an activity traditionally reserved for males. 10. She bears a deep love for her mate and thus is concerned about his growing desire to return to the islands of his youth. See Hongi Example #1 for an image of the traditional Maori greeting. 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