Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. 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. Though the film brims with authenticity, it is almost too authentic. 9. But a lot of the credit has to go to newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes, who gives an amazingly heartbreaking performance that's incredibly compelling. 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. Pai argues on behalf of egalitarian leadership, asserting that anyone with knowledge can be of value to the tribe and that strength can be found in having several types of leaders rather than one. After students have seen the film, engage the class in a discussion about the themes of the story. Later on, Kahu goes out to sea with Nanny and Rawiri, and when they reach the spot above the stone, Kahu dives into the sea and retrieves the stone. 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. Individual genealogy was remembered through the he rakau wakapapa-paranga, a board with a notch for each name and a blank space to denote when a male line of descent died out. He tells her that what she did was dangerous. 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. When Pai is found and brought to the hospital, Koro declares her the leader and asks for her forgiveness. 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. More books than SparkNotes. See Discussion questions numbered 2, 8 and 10. Pa : l'lue d'un peuple nouveau Voir film streaming complet vf en gratuit. What is revealed about Pai and her uncle in this episode? Kahu is the chief protagonist of the story. 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. 4. Pai is interested in the lessons, but is discouraged and scolded by Koro for doing so. These scenes include those that show Maori families as dysfunctional or Maori people abusing alcohol. Whale Rider movie review & film summary (2003) | Roger Ebert 12. [2] It received $2.5 million from the New Zealand Film Production Fund. Despite their joint efforts, the rope breaks and they walk away exhausted. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. There are several symbolic meanings in the scene that starts with Koro unsuccessfully trying to use a rope to start an engine. Whale Rider (2003) Full Movie Stream | Full Stream These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. 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. In the film "Whale Rider" directed by Niki Caro, in a small town in New Zealand called Whangara a innocent young girl called Paikea is born and she is everything Koro didn't want in the future chief/leader. The narrator of this time period is Rawiri, her uncle. The relationship between Paikea and her grandfather is exceptionally well-written and feels remarkably real. 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. She finds the rei puta, which means that she is the rightful leader. The scenes with Hemi - at the performance when his dad. Later during the taiaha lesson, and when he and Paikea. Nanny is the wife of Koro and the motherly figure for most of the other main characters. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. Koro sees that as a sign of his failure and despairs further. Coming Soon. In recent years, tattooing has become common for both men and women. Jeff then invites Rawiri to accompany him as he returns to help his parents on their plantation in Papua New Guinea. It is the present day, but the director has been careful not to be specific. This symbol can also be seen as representing his inability to see the strengths of Pais character and to foresee the best path for the tribe to take in the future. Our ancestor, Paikea. Nanny does not think Koro is ready to accept this and does not tell him. 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. She never lets her anger get the best of her. He said of Castle-Hughes: "This is a movie star. " Women, like men, should try to do the impossible, and when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others."-. 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. The movie won many awards at film festivals. The Question and Answer section for The Whale Rider is a great Using the Movie in the Classroom Term. This will presage a scene in the film. 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. Watch Whale Rider: The Descendants Of Paikea, Watch Whale Rider: Pai Dives Into The Water. In modern times, the interior rooms of Maori meeting houses are places sacred to the ancestors. For the boy who would be chief. 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. Another example of family dysfunction is Hemis father. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. In the absence of swift and agile mammalian predators, some species of birds had lost the ability to fly. Suduiko, Aaron ed. The focus shifts to a herd of whales. In voiceover, Pai declares, "My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider. The bull whale eventually agrees and they return Kahu, now unconscious, to Whangara. The Maori were the first human beings to live in New Zealand and brought with them a highly evolved Stone Age culture. 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. He notes that when all of the threads are woven together they make a strong rope. Terms and Policies Not affiliated with Harvard College. When Nanny awakens, Koro admits to her that this is entirely his fault, and that he has been stubborn and blind in the matter of Kahu. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him. [4] Plot [ edit] Carving of Paikea at Whangara 's marae 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. He invited them, 70 in some versions and 140 in others, for a trip in a beautiful ocean-going canoe that he had built. (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). Ultimately, all the dedicated efforts of Rawiri, his friends, Nanny, and all the other locals fail and all of the whales perish on the beach. In revenge, Rua-Tapu decided to kill all of his half-brothers, including Paikea. But Koro always rejected Pai just because she's a girl. The story is all about how the Maori people will hold on to their tradition while navigating the strange tides of modern times. [8] The 60ft (18m)-long waka seen at the end of the film was made in two-halves in Auckland before being transported to Whangara. 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. Koros reaction to what Pai had done is yet another symbol. Billy is a close friend of Rawiri's and a member of the same biker gang. 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. Pai's Opening Voice-Over PAI (narrating): In the old days the land felt a great emptiness that was waiting, waiting to be filled up, waiting . 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. BENEFITS OF THE MOVIE 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. Links to the Internet 11. 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. The Whale Rider The revered figure of Whangara's Maori people and Kahu's direct ancestor, the whale rider develops an extremely close bond with a whale. This shows that he thinks Pais leadership would be dangerous to the tribe, despite the fact that she can do what he cannot. 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. Her Grandfather and other sexist men would not have allowed themselves to see Pais full personhood and ability. Social-Emotional Learning At one point, Paikea decides to live with her father because her grandfather says he doesn't want her. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. "[16], The film has also been discussed and praised widely within academia. Prejudiced societies also lack a fundamental sense of justice and fairness. During the course of his stay, Rawiri has to face racist behavior from Jeffs social circle, especially his mother. However, Pais father, the next in line, has declined to accept the role. Waiting to be filled up. Look at the problem from the standpoint of the victim, the perpetrator, and society as a whole. All rights reserved. [9] By comparison, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 top reviews from mainstream critics, calculated an average score of 79, based on 31 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Keiko vs Porourangi (nobody knows vs. whale rider) Pais father is not around but Pai is growing up in the care of her . 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. Whale Rider is the best princess movie Disney never made . Then man arrived from the east, and the relationship between nature and man throve. 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. The introduction will also lead to aha! moments as students recognize aspects of Maori culture described in the lecture while watching the film. In the film Whale Rider depicts a culture in transition. So, it is the typical story of a young outsider making a moving film and then vanishing. When the prejudice is gone, they can fully enjoy Paikea. 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. Waiting for someone to love it. The traditional Maori greeting is to press noses. The women let the men think that the men are the bosses. Each time she comes she expresses love for her family there, but special deep love for Koro her great-grandfather. The Whale Rider Characters | GradeSaver 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. As a result,Koro spends a lot of time training him and bringing him along on trips pertaining to Maori legal and social issues. 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. A poetic look into a different culture that really isn't too different, simply remembering that it was at one time and wanting to hold that memory. 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. Back on the shore, Koro finally realizes Kahus special status and her suitability to lead. She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. Bridges to Reading The father and grandfather argue after the slide show, and the father goes to pull down the white sheet that was hung over some drapes to act as a screen. The Maori found them to be easy prey and quickly killed them off. Using this knowledge, she defeats Hemi, a boy trained by Koro himself. The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth: Season 8, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 1, Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Link to The Most Anticipated TV & Streaming Shows of March 2023. [8][9], On the World Socialist Web Site, John Braddock criticised The Whale Rider for its reactionary focus on identity politics, noting that "Whale Rider presents Maori as one people. 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. Whale Rider was released on DVD and VHS on 28 October 2004 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. (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 website's critical consensus states, "An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes". Koro is enraged when he finds out, particularly when she wins a taiaha fight against Hemi. One day, Koro takes some of his star pupils out to sea. 7. 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. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Whale Rider. 10,000 children were auditioned before narrowing it down to 12. They migrated approximately 1000 years ago from Hawaiiki, an unknown Polynesian island east of New Zealand. TV Shows. See production, box office & company info. Whale Rider Script - Dialogue Transcript - Script-O-Rama This highlights Paikeas decision to struggle against the fate that would have been hers had she not become Chief. However, Pai is strong. Castle-Hughes impressed Caro in the resulting workshop and was cast as Pai. Activities. By what name was Whale Rider (2002) officially released in India in English? Whale Rider (2002) - Mana Taumaunu as Hemi - IMDb The film's plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana ("Pai"). Maori culture was male-dominated, with women generally serving in subordinate roles. Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer, The Most Anticipated TV & Streaming Shows of March 2023, Pokmon Detective Pikachu Sequel Finds Its Writer and Director, and More Movie News. Copyright Fandango. [11][12], This article is about the novel. Whale Rider - Full Cast & Crew - TV Guide This will presage several scenes in the movie. 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. Whale Rider [Maori title: Te Kaieke Tohora] is a 2002 film . Her koro Apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Students can then be asked to take a deeper look and research questions that have been discussed in class. Pais grandmother can be highly critical of Koro, yet she tolerates him using humor. Cinemark This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Other characters have disappointments too, e.g. When she is born, her great-grandfather expresses great disdain that she is a girl. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Cebeci, Ali. ----- 6. Nanny orders Rawiri not to tell Koro of this strange incident, as he is not yet ready to accept Kahus special status. 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.