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 A moving spiritual experience Mar 19, 2010
I've heard good things about 2002's "Whale Rider" for years and put off seeing it, likely because it appeared to be some type of trite Disney flick with a kid (or kids) winning at a competition against all odds, etc. (not that there's anything wrong with that), but that's not what this film's about at all. "Whale Rider" is a serious drama with a very spiritual & moving air and realistic tone.
THE PLOT: A small tribe of Maori in modern-day New Zealand 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. From then on chiefs of the Whangara tribe have been Paikea's direct descendants, always the first-born and always male. There is reoccuring evidence that Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal culture, is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition and stubbornness and insists on choosing a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must convince him and fight a thousand years of tradition for her calling to come to pass.
"Whale Rider" is an independent film with none of the trappings of modern blockbusters; the story is dialogue-driven, slow and not all that eventful, which can of course throw off those used to a steady diet of the latter. Take note before watching.
I'll be perfectly honest with you, "Whale Rider" was a veritable religious experience for me. I had the dvd lying around for a few weeks and then one day I just knew the time was right: I put it in, not really intending to watch the entire film, and I was captivated from beginning to end (just over an hour and a half without credits). When I put it in I was in a very spiritually-sensitive mode and, hence, literally cried through about 75% of it. The movie actually spoke to me in a sense, if you know what I mean, and I received clear direction in one area of searching/need. Don't dismiss this on the grounds that I'm some sentimental wack job; I'm just a regular dude.
The thematic clash of the film is not granddaughter against grandfather but rather truth v.s. traditionalism, spirit of the law v.s. letter of the law, and true calling v.s. stubborn opposition.
There's also an interesting subtheme about a culture losing its identity and languishing in drugs/alcohol, crime and meaningless despondency. How can they, as individuals and as a people, escape this? They must know their identity -- who they ARE.
Some have criticized the film as too predictable, but I'd rather watch "Whale Rider" and it's predictable play-it-straight plot than moronic 'twist' films like "A Perfect Getaway" (2009) where the story is essentially a lie, leaving the viewer feeling ripped-off and hoodwinked. "Whale Rider" is refreshingly honest by comparison. Besides, 'twist' plots have become so common that playing it straight is now 'cutting edge.'
Keisha Castle-Hughes, who plays Pai, is precious.
The film was shot on location at gorgeous coastal New Zealand.
FINAL WORD: If what I've said above piques your interest don't miss out on "Whale Rider." But wait for the right moment when you know you'll be receptive to such a reverent piece. It will move you and maybe even speak to you.
An inspiration Feb 14, 2010
I bought this for a young girl, a unique inspiration to young people who are facing their individual challenges and finding difficulty blending in with their own peers and feeling themselves at odds in their world. I love the type of spitituality expressed.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Review for school project Feb 01, 2010
The beginning of the movie starts out with Porourangi standing by his wife as she gives birth to two children. Unfortunately, both the wife and son die, leaving a girl behind. The grandfather, Koro, is upset because he was hoping the boy would be the new village chief since his own son Porourangi wasn't interested. To make matters worse Porourangi gives the child the same name as the legend Paikea, who rode on the back of an ancient whale bringing their ancestors to New Zealand. Koro is furious, because he knows a girl could never have the right to become what her brother would have been, the new chief. He says he wants nothing to do with her.
The next scene is when Paikea is older and attending middle school. Despite her grandfather's anger, we see her riding on a bicycle with him. Her name has been shortened to Pai and she has been raised by her grandfather and his wife Nanny since her dad left her to go to Europe to pursue a career as an artist. Her father comes back to the village though for a visit. Father and son embrace closely in the way of the Maori, by touching noses. Anger erupts though when Koro learns that Porourangi is expecting a child with a woman he met in Germany. Porourangi asks Pai to return to Europe with him, but she changes her mind as they're leaving.
Pai knows that Koro is always looking down at her as unworthy and he seems to stay angry with her through most of the movie. Despite his attitude though she feels that she is meant to be the leader of the village, and tries desperately to prove this to Koro. We are constantly seeing the self determination in Pai set against Koro's inability to question his beliefs. She loves her grandfather, but she also has the courage to speak through her actions, in an attempt to show him that she is the future of the tribe.
Koro disciplining Pai is something that occurs over and over, especially when she is interfering with his goals of finding a new leader among the boys of the village. In one scene they are working on the engine of an old boat and Koro explains how the twines of the rope used to start the engine together represent the strength of their ancestors. When the rope breaks Koro goes off to find a new one and Pai re-ties it and starts the engine. This angers Koro and he reprimands her.
Koro decides to form a cultural school for the village boys, hoping to find a new leader. Pai secretly follows the lessons and with the help of her uncle Rawiri learns how use a fighting stick. Her grandfather, once again is enraged when he finds out. As a final test for the boys to see who will become chief, Koro takes them out to a spot in the ocean and tosses his whale tooth necklace into the ocean. The boy who retrieve's it will become the new leader of the future. Unfortunately none of the boys are able to bring it back and this causes Koro to fall into a great state of depression.
Uncle Rawiri, returns to the spot in the ocean that the necklace was thrown into with Pai. She jumps in, and returns not only with the necklace, but also a lobster. She didn't seem to realize what it meant to find the whale tooth necklace only that it would make her grandfather happy again.
.
The climax of the film then takes place at a school ceremony, where Pai is honored for winning an essay contest. She wrote about the pride and love she has for her grandfather. Koro wasn't there when it began and he got even more delayed when he found himself on the beach when he discovered whales stranded in the sand. The whole village tries to keep the whales alive, especially the largest one. They try using a rope and tractor to turn it towards the ocean in the hopes that it would be able to swim. The rope snaps though and they decide to give up. Pai stays behind though and climbs up on top of the whale. The giant creature finds the strength to push itself back into the water with Pai on its back. Nanny realizes that Pai is no longer with them and the whale is gone. The crowd is immediately overcome with horror. They finally see her on the back of the whale, riding up and down in the water like the ancestors of long ago did. The water eventually overcomes her and she is forced to let go. The next scene shows her in the hospital with Koro by her side asking for forgiveness. He has finally acknowledged that she is the "wise leader". She opens her eyes and smiles.
The final scene shows the canoe that Pai frequently went to when she needed to be by herself. The villagers were pushing it together, towards the ocean with Koro and Pai sitting in the center.
 Pia- Against All Odds Feb 01, 2010
The movie Whale Rider is about a young girl named Pai who lives in a small Maori village with her grandparents after her mother and twin brother die in childbirth and her father leaves to travel around the world. Pai's twin brother was supposed to be the next leader of their village and his death causes Pai's grandfather, Koro, much distress. After realizing that there is no hope for another grandson, Koro begins to train the first-born males in the village in the traditions of their people. Pai desires to learn with the boys, but Koro does not allow this, as only males can be chief. Pai is not discouraged and turns to her uncle for help. After all the boys in the village fail the final tasks of retrieving Koro's whale's tooth from the ocean, he becomes very depressed and feels there is little hope of finding a new leader for his people. Koro calls to the spirits for help, as does Pai because she cannot stand to see her grandfather depressed. Soon the spirits answer and send the whales that help bring their ancestor Paikea to help. The whales become beached and the village people attempt to help them back into the ocean but are unable to. Pai however communes with the leader whale's spirit and climbs atop him to try to convince him to go back to sea, as her ancestor had done. The whale responds and swims back to sea, with Pai atop, a vision of the Maori ancestor Paikea is seen by the villagers. Koro then realizes Pai's destiny as the next chief and accepts her for who she is.
This movie relates to World Religions because it demonstrates many aspects of indigenous cultures through the Maori village. The movie shows the importance of family and heritage to the people. It also shows the importance that the Maori placed on their beliefs in the spirits as helpers. The whale spirits showed the village who the next chief was, when they were unable to see it. The movie displays traditional ceremonies, such as the one at the end with the dancing and chanting. The education and initiation process for the new chief of the village is also shown in the movie, and most indigenous cultures have some form of education and initiation of the spiritual leaders for the next generation. The movie also shows how important the customs are to the people. There is also insight into how the modern world is influencing and changing the indigenous people. During the movie, many of the women smoked which was a big issue to Pai. Also, some of the Maori people had abandoned their traditional ways and moved away or joined gangs. This is causing generational gaps and history is being lost.
-Review Written By James Beasley
An absolute must see movie... Jan 28, 2010
In a native Maori New Zealand tribe, a set of twins are born into a long line of chiefs, the boy being the one destined to carry on the lineage of warriors, but fate takes a hand and alters the future. Both mother and her newborn son die shortly after the birth and a baby girl is left behind to fulfill a legacy. The father, too distraught over the loss of his wife and newborn son leaves his daughter in his parents' care. From the moment she was born Paikea was a reminder to her grandfather Koro that there was no male to carry on generations of Maori chiefs. Paikea struggles to convince her grandfather that she does not have to be a male to be a great leader and that she is the one who is meant to carry on the tradition and will lead their people forward into the future. Her father returns home with news that he is an expectant father and asks Paikea to go back to Germany with him. When she hears the distant sounds of the whales, it was a call to turn around and go home to her village. Still she was unable to stir emotion in her sober-faced grandfather. When Koro gathers a group of young boys for training to seek out the next one who was to be the leader, Paikea seizes the opportunity to prove herself worthy to her grandfather. Koro refuses to see her as anything other than a 12 year old girl. She only succeeds in angering him further in her futile attempts to become a fighter. Koro's spirit is broken when neither of the two potential boys who were chosen to find the whale's tooth he tosses overboard is able to deliver. Paikea, who senses her grandfather's pain and disappointment, takes it upon herself to call to the ancestors when Koro's attempts fail. Paikea tests her faith once again when she invites her grandfather to a school production only to leave heartbroken with trophy in hand and tears in her eyes. There is a very strong sense of tradition, family, togetherness and spirituality that bonds the people of the Maori tribe. They are an indigenous group of people that all bans together for celebrations and share a close knit relationship and profound belief in their heritage and rituals. Their primal instincts give them the strength of one and a true sense of brotherhood. When the next morning comes the village is awoken in horror at the sight of multiple beached whales on the shore. In her final, desperate attempt, young Paikea risks her life and sets out to prove once and for all that she is brave and can be a great leader. She is determined to fulfill her destiny in spite of the odds, ready to join the ranks of her ancestors and become the next generation Whale Rider.
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