[4] Casting director Diana Rowan visited numerous schools to find an actress to play Pai. hunting and gathering and some horticulture. She persists and fights for what she wants. The waka was given to the Whangara community after filming concluded.[5]. Terms and Policies A few years pass in this way. Coming Soon. He is accidentally killed by Jeff in a car accident. Maori tradition provides that only first born sons can be chief. The oldest of the matrons of the whale herd, this whale is the bull whale's dearest companion. Because of his status as eldest, he is the default choice for leadership after Koro passes away. He tells her that what she did was dangerous. Moral-Ethical Emphasis Her koro Apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. She never lets her anger get the best of her. 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. 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. Uncle Rawiri is an interesting character and in many ways a foil for Paikea. . No matter where you may go, you will always return. The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. Whale Rider. Discussion Questions Relating to Ethical Issues will facilitate the use of this film to teach ethical principles and critical viewing. 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. 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. The Girl Who Could Every culture has principles that create a foundation for its belief system, and changing these principles is disdained. subsistance is based on. The bull whale leads his herd away from their most-feared predator: mankind. Nanny is connected in lineage to Muriwai, a brave, independent ancestress, famous for her strength. Read the Study Guide for The Whale Rider, Tradition as a Tool for Oppressing Women in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider, The Influence of Beliefs on Individual Life in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider., View Wikipedia Entries for The Whale Rider. In an attempt to help, Pai also calls out to them and they hear her call. The film was a coproduction between New Zealand and Germany. Although Pai works hard to earn Koros respect, she is rebuffed each time she tries to master an activity traditionally reserved for males. 5. She is a stubborn, determined, and brave women not afraid to stand up to her husband. 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. Setting. However, the great tragedy of the event is that Koro never shows up. However his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), survives. [5], The Whale Rider has been a worldwide bestseller, and is the most-translated work by a New Zealand author. The Chief's eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins - a boy and a girl, but the boy and his . 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. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. Pa : l'lue d'un peuple nouveau regarder . [17], Whale Rider grossed US$41 million worldwide.[3]. 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. When he tells Pai that he cannot be what Koro wants, Pai says, Me neither. Two other reasons are worth mentioning. Which of the evils of prejudice are shown operating in this movie? Nanny is the wife of Koro and the motherly figure for most of the other main characters. TV Shows. Though the film brims with authenticity, it is almost too authentic. Her leadership qualities, knowledge of Maori culture, and skill with the Taiaha cannot gain for her what they would had she been a firstborn son. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. Assignments and Projects Some Important Scenes & Quotations from Whale Rider 1. I'm not a prophet, but I know that our people will keep going forward, all together, with all of our strength. He can spare only a few minutes to watch his son at the ceremony and is then off with his friends. 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. 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. An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes. The epilogue narrates that the oldest mother whale notices Kahu and realizes that her husband, the bull whale, has mistaken this little girl for her ancestor. Porourangi later tells his daughter that the old man is looking for something that no longer exists. It was last revised on July 21, 2011. 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 addition to websites which linked in the Guide and selected film reviews listed on the Movie Review Query Engine, the following resources were consulted in the preparation of this Learning Guide: This Learning Guide was written by Mary RedClay and James Frieden. They head towards a sea trench that used to provide them bounty and shelter but they find there an inhospitable and radioactive place. 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 rope breaks and Koro leaves to find another. The website's critical consensus states, "An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes". Featured Actors: 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 Director: Niki Caro. Whale Rider also provides an occasion for research, oral presentations, and essay writing required skills in most ELA curricula. Unfortunately the boy dies while the girl lives, and resentful is the elder who blames the girl for the sons death since he was the last recent hope for the village to gain a chief. The whale has to balance between current responsibilities as leader of the herd on one hand, and nostalgia for past times on the other. All of the main characters are impacted by the dynamic between tradition and modernity. Bibliography. By creating an account, you agree to the Not only is this the land of her father's family, but it is also . Benefits of the Movie But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. Jeff then invites Rawiri to accompany him as he returns to help his parents on their plantation in Papua New Guinea. What idea in this speech offers the solution to the problem faced by both Koro and the Maori as a whole? Whale Rider is a film directed by Niki Caro (2002). 10. See Example #1 and Example #2. Then the story shifts back to Kahu, whose mother dies within a year of Kahus birth. Using the Movie in the Classroom Term. 8. Students can then be asked to take a deeper look and research questions that have been discussed in class. 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. 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, no matter how many leadership qualities Rawiri may possess, he can never be chief because he is a second-born son. It was assembled from parts of previous supercontinents by the Late Precambrian time, some 600 million years ago. 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. 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. At their head is a great bull whale with an ancient sacred Maori tattoo. After students have seen the film, engage the class in a discussion about the themes of the story. This is an echo of the earlier symbol of the rope. Kahu returns to Whangara several times when she is able. He notes that when all of the threads are woven together they make a strong rope. The story is all about how the Maori people will hold on to their tradition while navigating the strange tides of modern times. In the novel . Parenting Points However, Koro was late, and as he was walking to the school, he notices that numerous southern right whales are beached near Pai's home. 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. This link will take you to a video of the scene from the movie in which a karanga is called and answered as students are welcomed to the opening of their new school. At age 13, Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actress before she was surpassed by Quvenzhan Wallis, at age 9, for Beasts of the Southern Wild, in 2012, less than a decade later. The world premiere was on 9 September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. It started to break up about 180 million years ago in the Early Jurassic Period. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. This is called hongi, a gesture that is the social equivalent of a handshake or a kiss on both cheeks. Why does Porourangi, Koros first born son and Pais father, leave home and live in faraway Germany? Called Ta moko,, they consist of important symbols that help individuals express their unique identities. Back home he cracks under all the pressure and weeps. Another example of family dysfunction is Hemis father. 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. He pulls it down, along with the rod and orange drapes that the sheet was hanging from. Coming Soon. But then the story shifts to Kahu. 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. Sep 30, 2014. Not affiliated with Harvard College. 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. In the 1700s, when Europeans first arrived in New Zealand, it was common for Maori to have tattoos covering their entire face. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. PG-13 (Momentary Drug Reference|Brief Language), Kids & family, But a lot of the credit has to go to newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes, who gives an amazingly heartbreaking performance that's incredibly compelling. 9. During the night, Rawiri, Koro, Kahu and Nanny hear a booming sound coming from the sea, as if a great door has just opened, and then they witness a large group of huge whales emerge from the bottom of the sea. However, he wants to be an artist and this causes conflict which he resolves by moving to Germany. 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. Whale Rider introduces its protagonist, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), experiencing a trauma shared by countless other Disney heroines: her mother's death. Whale Rider [Maori title: Te Kaieke Tohora] is a 2002 film . Whale Rider - Full Cast & Crew. Keiko vs Porourangi (nobody knows vs. whale rider) Pais father is not around but Pai is growing up in the care of her . Back home, Rawiri notes that Koro has become even more obsessed in his mission of finding a male successor. The time is now. 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. a term of reference for of this tribe who have Paikea as their founding ancestor. Activities. With the loss of the rei puta, Koro in despair calls out the ancient ones, the whales. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Paikea became the ruler of the people who lived on the islands. Regal Selected Awards & Cast The focus shifts to a herd of whales. Maori consciousness is shaped by reverence for ancestors and the past. Pai tells her father to return her home. Hemis father comes to see his son for a brief part of the ceremony at the school and then leaves with his friends. The Maori were the first human beings to live in New Zealand and brought with them a highly evolved Stone Age culture. She clearly asserts that tradition can hinder progress. The Whale Rider Together with Yavaraj Athur Raghuvir I watched the movie called The Whale Rider which deals with the issue of cultural restrains both as an individual and as a society. 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. 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. See production, box office & company info. 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. Pa : l'lue d'un peuple nouveau streaming vf gratuit francais. . The symbol is that even with everyone in the tribe pulling together, the purpose cannot be accomplished without the proper leader. Kahu herself plays a prominent role in the ceremony. Plot Summary of Whale Rider 1. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. She finds the rei puta, which means that she is the rightful leader. 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. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. fight. When Koro returns he admonishes his granddaughter, telling her that what she has done is dangerous and that she should never do it again. 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 the rope breaks as Koro tries to start the engine. The Question and Answer section for The Whale Rider is a great Pai feels that she can become the leader (although no woman has ever done so) and is determined to succeed. Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for the 2004 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. There is no reason he should not be chief. He has opened his mind and abandoned his rigid adherence to the old rules. Watch Whale Rider: The Descendants Of Paikea, Watch Whale Rider: Pai Dives Into The Water. 10,000 children were auditioned before narrowing it down to 12. [11][12], This article is about the novel. Adapt the presentation to the needs of particular classes. Describe the symbols shown by this scene. Our ancestor, Paikea. The bull whale is leading his herd through the frozen waters of Antarctica. Although the young New Zealand girl dreams of . Waiting for someone to love it. It is also possible to rent "Whale Rider" on Amazon Video, Alamo on Demand online and to download it on Alamo on Demand, Amazon . If Porourangi had tried to stay in New Zealand, he would have had to constantly face Koros disapproval. 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. Best Actress nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes stars in this moving coming-of-age story, set in a modern-day Maori village. The film earned $41.4 million[3] on a NZ$9,235,000 budget. 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. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. She bears a deep love for her mate and thus is concerned about his growing desire to return to the islands of his youth. All the whales of a herd come and to the beach and strand themselves there. Kahu does not mind all this anger from Koro though, and she continues to fervently seek his love and acceptance. 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. Despite their joint efforts, the rope breaks and they walk away exhausted. But to break with convention, she'll have to do the impossible: win over her ultra-traditional grandfather (Rawiri Paratene). Castle-Hughes impressed Caro in the resulting workshop and was cast as Pai. This symbolizes his inability to lead the tribe. Click the card to flip . 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. Their way of life is being put to the test: they can either save the whale or fail and fall into ruin. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Select imprint on 22 August 2017. 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. These scenes include those that show Maori families as dysfunctional or Maori people abusing alcohol. Kahu finds Current time: coastal Maori village in New Zealand. 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. Encourage students to discuss what was happening in. Our ancestor, Paikea. Cebeci, Ali. Pai learns how to use the war sticks, the Taiaha, from Uncle Rawiri. All of the main characters are impacted by the dynamic between tradition and modernity. Had Pai not been able to save the whales, she would not have been able to be Chief and pursue the life she wanted. Read the Study Guide for The Whale Rider, Tradition as a Tool for Oppressing Women in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider, The Influence of Beliefs on Individual Life in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider., View Wikipedia Entries for The Whale Rider. Pai, the protagonist, briefly explains the story of Paikeia, the legendary Whale Rider who founded Maori civilization. 4. Each time she comes she expresses love for her family there, but special deep love for Koro her great-grandfather. Rawiri accompanies him but eventually leaves due to the increasingly apparent racism ofRawiri's family (especially coming from his mother). The whales in the movie are a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI. 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. The scenes with Hemi - at the performance when his dad. This will presage several scenes in the movie. 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. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Diana Rowan Production Design by Grant Major Whale Rider streaming: where to watch online? Whale Rider transmisin en espaol. Like many indigenous people, Porourangi is torn between two civilizations. However, he is a nurturing man and a leader in the community just by force of his winning personality. 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). In recent years, tattooing has become common for both men and women. 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. 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. Set in the 1980s in Whangara, a Mori community on the eastern edge of New Zealand's North Island, the novel is a retelling of the myth of Paikea. [2][3] In 2002 it was adapted into a film, Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro.[4]. In modern times, the interior rooms of Maori meeting houses are places sacred to the ancestors. 1. Kahu Kahu is the chief protagonist of the story. And if knowledge is given to everyone, we can have lots of leaders. Throughout the book, symbols in his environment cause him to contemplate his morals and true beliefs. A young girl might fulfill a prophecy in an indigenous New Zealand community. Discussion Questions Their future is conceived in an entirely utopian manneras the rediscovery of tribal roots and assertion of cultural traditions and spiritualityseparated entirely from that of the working class." This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to be the next chief dies at birth. Paikea: And he came on the back of a whale. Cinemark (Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant of differences; Use good manners, not bad language; Be considerate of the feelings of others; Dont threaten, hit or hurt anyone; Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements). 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. When Koro is cruel and refuses to respect her as a human being to be evaluated based on her character and abilities, she forgives him for his intransigence. 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. 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. In 2005, the film was named on the BFI List of the 50 Films You Should See By the Age of 14. This whale rider casts spears as life-giving objects to the islands, but one spear he casts 1000 years into the future, which is the time of the storys young heroine Kahu. [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. More books than SparkNotes. Koro is devastated when none of the boys succeeds at the traditional task of recovering the rei puta (whale tooth) that he threw into the ocean, the mission that would prove one of them worthy of becoming leader. Part I begins by refocusing on the herd of whales. Thus out of disdain for the girl, Koro refuses to show any love towards her and even refuses to conduct the traditional burial of the birth cord. 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. 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. This can poison intergroup and personal relations. Then a pod of whales, an animal revered by the Maori, beaches itself on the sand near the tribes home. The Maori were fierce warriors and would, at times, dine on their conquered enemies. Dont worry, it wont take long. 11. Possible Problems The relationship between Paikea and her grandfather is exceptionally well-written and feels remarkably real. When the prejudice is gone, they can fully enjoy Paikea. 12. Whale Rider (2002) Mana Taumaunu as Hemi. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. The Ta moko was predominately for males and among traditional Maori it was rare that a woman would have tattoos. [5] The film was shot in Whangara, Te Tai Rwhiti, and in Auckland. "[16], The film has also been discussed and praised widely within academia. In every generation for more than one thousand years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title. Although Pais grandfather, Koro, loves his granddaughter, he is determined to find a male to serve as his successor. 1. Maori Meeting Houses In and Over Time by Toon Van Meijl, Chapter 8; in Inside Austronesian Houses Perspective on Domestic Designs for Living; ANU E Press, 2006. One traditional function of Maori women was the karanga, an exchange of calls that forms part of the Maori welcoming ceremony. The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. Koro leads a cultural school for the village's first-born boys, hoping to find a new leader. Bless Me Ultima is a mystical realism novel in which 6 year old protagonist, Antonio Marez, begins the journey of discovering himself on the path of adolescence. At one point, Paikea decides to live with her father because her grandfather says he doesn't want her.