This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to be the next chief dies at birth. Our ancestor, Paikea. Kahu finds Current time: coastal Maori village in New Zealand. 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. Whangara, New Zealand. Kahu Kahu is the chief protagonist of the story. She finds the rei puta, which means that she is the rightful leader. He is accidentally killed by Jeff in a car accident. A young girl might fulfill a prophecy in an indigenous New Zealand community. He invited them, 70 in some versions and 140 in others, for a trip in a beautiful ocean-going canoe that he had built. The movie was based on the novel, The Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera. Throughout the book, symbols in his environment cause him to contemplate his morals and true beliefs. This will presage several scenes in the movie. She persists and fights for what she wants. Then the story ends with Kahu telling her dear great-grandfather that she can still hear the singing of the whales. There are several possible ways to express this. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. She is attuned to the traditional Mori way of life, and may have inherited the ability to speak to whales. Benefits of the Movie It was shot on location in Whangara, the setting of the novel. The film contains music by Lisa Gerrard, released on the album Whalerider on 7 July 2003. However, he wants to be an artist and this causes conflict which he resolves by moving to Germany. Assignments and Projects Bridges to Reading . 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. This is clearly shown in the scene in which he rallies the tribe to try to save the whales. 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. The ____ family in the movie, despite their beliefs or rituals, can be just like an American family, or any other one. Pai feels that she can become the leader (although no woman has ever done so) and is determined to succeed. Nanny does not think Koro is ready to accept this and does not tell him. hunting and gathering and some horticulture. ----- 6. 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. Just confirm how you got your ticket. Students can then be asked to take a deeper look and research questions that have been discussed in class. GradeSaver, 6 April 2015 Web. Pai Ihimaera's The Whale Rider The summary of The Whale Rider is about a young girl, named Pai, who wants to be chief. See also Assignments, Projects, and Activities for Use With Any Film that is a Work of Fiction. Despite their joint efforts, the rope breaks and they walk away exhausted. Kahu herself plays a prominent role in the ceremony. At their head is a great bull whale with an ancient sacred Maori tattoo. Coming Soon. 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. . Selected Awards & Cast 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. Worksheet for Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects. [4] Plot [ edit] Carving of Paikea at Whangara 's marae Castle-Hughes impressed Caro in the resulting workshop and was cast as Pai. Whale Rider watch online free. As a result,Koro spends a lot of time training him and bringing him along on trips pertaining to Maori legal and social issues. He admonishes Pai against touching the largest whale because she has "done enough" damage with her presumption. What idea in this speech offers the solution to the problem faced by both Koro and the Maori as a whole? 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. Because sometimes, even if youre the leader and you need to be strong, you can get tired like our ancestor Paikea when he was lost at sea and he couldnt find the land and he probably wanted to die. Whale Rider - Full Cast & Crew. Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for the 2004 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Maori children were taught about their ancestors by memorizing the names of the person represented by each notch. Though the film brims with authenticity, it is almost too authentic. 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. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". In every generation for more than one thousand years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title. The women let the men think that the men are the bosses. Most Promising Performer (Keisha Castle-Hughes, Best Screenplay Adapted (Niki Caro, lost to, Best Supporting Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to, Bar One (International Observer) Loaded Sounds , This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 09:45. The Maori were the first human beings to live in New Zealand and brought with them a highly evolved Stone Age culture. 11. The Whale Rider Quotes and Analysis. Pai ties the rope together and then easily starts the engine. He has opened his mind and abandoned his rigid adherence to the old rules. Porourangi later tells his daughter that the old man is looking for something that no longer exists. The Maori were fierce warriors and would, at times, dine on their conquered enemies. The story is all about how the Maori people will hold on to their tradition while navigating the strange tides of modern times. There are several possible reasons. and the She is a young girl with a strong and determined temperament and a soft and innocent heart. 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. In the time of the story he is in his early twenties. For society as a whole, prejudice limits the contribution that the victims can make. Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association: New Zealand filmmaker Jonathan Brough made the documentary film Riding the Wave: The Whale Rider Story, as well as short documentary clips about Whale Rider, to accompany the DVD.[20]. Whale Rider was released on DVD and VHS on 28 October 2004 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. Some Important Scenes & Quotations from Whale Rider 1. 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. Links to the Internet 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. 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 bears a deep love for her mate and thus is concerned about his growing desire to return to the islands of his youth. "[15] Claudia Puig of USA Today gave the film three-and-a-half out of four stars and praised Castle-Hughes' acting, saying "so effectively does she convey her pained confusion through subtle vocal cues, tentative stance and expressive dark eyes. 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. However, if you can relate the situation of Paikea or the grandfather to a struggle being waged by someone your child knows, it would be worthwhile to highlight the connection with a comment. This highlights Paikeas decision to struggle against the fate that would have been hers had she not become Chief. Regal She never lets her anger get the best of her. Mana Taumana as Hemi; FILM SYNOPSIS In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. [2] Additional financing came from ApolloMedia, Filmstiftung NRW, the New Zealand Film Commission and NZ On Air. During the course of his stay, Rawiri has to face racist behavior from Jeffs social circle, especially his mother. The story begins with a focus on the ancient days, when nature and all wildlife were excitedly waiting for the coming of man. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. 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. One traditional function of Maori women was the karanga, an exchange of calls that forms part of the Maori welcoming ceremony. Look at the problem from the standpoint of the victim, the perpetrator, and society as a whole. He can spare only a few minutes to watch his son at the ceremony and is then off with his friends. But then the story shifts to Kahu. Pai, the protagonist, briefly explains the story of Paikeia, the legendary Whale Rider who founded Maori civilization. TWM has not read the book. A rope is seen in the episode in which the villagers try to help the beached whales return to the sea. Read critic reviews. It is Pai who saves the whales and, in so doing convinces, her grandfather that she should be Chief. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. He is the grandson of Koro and thus the uncle of Kahu. According to myth, Paikea was the founder of the Maori people. Keiko vs Porourangi (nobody knows vs. whale rider) Pais father is not around but Pai is growing up in the care of her . 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. 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 Quotes. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. Sep 30, 2014. More books than SparkNotes. Later when Kahu also awakens, he tells her for the first time that he loves her. 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 story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her . 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. By creating an account, you agree to the For example, according to tradition, Paikeas father should stay in the village and assume the role of Chief. It started to break up about 180 million years ago in the Early Jurassic Period. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Whale Rider introduces its protagonist, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), experiencing a trauma shared by countless other Disney heroines: her mother's death. As in many cultures, the value of ancestors and a reverence for the past shape Maori consciousness. What does this suggest about the tribes problems? At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother (Vicky Haughton) and the training of her uncle (Grant Roa) to claim her birthright. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and These scenes include those that show Maori families as dysfunctional or Maori people abusing alcohol. Astraightforward man who seems to have acquired his wealth through hard work and determination. The Ta moko was predominately for males and among traditional Maori it was rare that a woman would have tattoos. Synopsis. 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. But to break with convention, she'll have to do the impossible: win over her ultra-traditional grandfather (Rawiri Paratene). Nanny is connected in lineage to Muriwai, a brave, independent ancestress, famous for her strength. Most are now extinct. The Question and Answer section for The Whale Rider is a great 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. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. And if knowledge is given to everyone, we can have lots of leaders. Click here for a still picture of two women calling a karanga. They are forced to travel to other havens as this long-time home for them has become too inhospitable to live in. He fails to be a strong presence in the life of his child. Show in your presentation the great variety found in the various myths and make clear what each myth attempts to explain. these scenes. We can learn and if the knowledge is given to everyone then we can have lots of leaders, and soon everyone will be strong not just the ones that have been chosen because sometimes even if you're the leader and you need to be strong you can get tired. The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. He said of Castle-Hughes: "This is a movie star. The rope breaks and Koro leaves to find another. Koro recognizes in this event a spiritual warning to him and his people; their test is to return this ancient whale back to sea because they are so connected to this supernatural whale herd that if it lives they live and f it dies they die. Later during the taiaha lesson, and when he and Paikea. Students can examine their own concepts of gender roles as they watch entrenched sexism diminish through the course of the film. 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. 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. His anguish is now doubled as he must accept that he has been so harsh to the very person he needed so badly this whole time. Koros reaction to what Pai had done is yet another symbol. When she is born, her great-grandfather expresses great disdain that she is a girl. Review at least five different creation myths; 7. compare and contrast gender roles in a variety of cultures and seek to explain what purpose is served in adhering to a strict set of traditions in regard to these roles; and. The beginning of the movie starts out with the birth of 2 fraternal twins, with the grandfather patiently awaiting the birth of the son. But we can learn. The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. This is especially harmful to children who grow up as second-class citizens in a society that condones prejudice. 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. 2. 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. Pais father can be his own person in Germany, away from the restraints of his father, the tribe, and Maori culture. When the canoe was far out to sea, he moved his foot and all aboard drowned except for Rua-Tapu and Paikea, the latter being saved by a whale who took him to New Zealand. GradeSaver, 6 April 2015 Web. Before starting the introduction, on a globe or map of the world, show students the locations of New Zealand and Germany in relation to each other and to the community in which they live. Like many indigenous people, Porourangi is torn between two civilizations. The revered figure of Whangara's Maori people and Kahu's direct ancestor, the whale rider develops an extremely close bond with a whale. Pai is female and so technically cannot inherit the leadership. However his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), survives. Jeffs mother and father run a plantation, but his father has become too physically weak to continue with more help, hence their plea to their son to return. See Assignments, Projects & Activities. Then he is excluded from the boat. Moral-Ethical Emphasis, Assignments and Projects 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. 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. Koro is enraged when he finds out, particularly when she wins a taiaha fight against Hemi. Whale Rider is a film directed by Niki Caro (2002). But her Grandfather, Koro Apirana, wanted a male chief for his tradition. Traditional myths and information about navigation are carved into the walls. Instead, Nanny Flowers, Koros wife and Kahus great-grandmother, must enlist the aid of Rawiri and some friends to help her bury it herself in the town center. The bull whale leads his herd away from their most-feared predator: mankind. The whale mothers look over their young while the single leader whalethe bull whalereminisces about his own youth so long ago, and the precious time he spent with the whale rider. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. This can be seen when the women play cards and joke about the men. 8. 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. They will soon die if they are not pushed back to sea. It was assembled from parts of previous supercontinents by the Late Precambrian time, some 600 million years ago. What is revealed about Pai and her uncle in this episode? Back on the shore, Koro finally realizes Kahus special status and her suitability to lead. Not affiliated with Harvard College. His response to the strong ties that he feels to Maori culture and the pressure to be chief is to make a clean break. After students have seen the film, engage the class in a discussion about the themes of the story. 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.