The movie won many awards at film festivals. He has opened his mind and abandoned his rigid adherence to the old rules. Sep 30, 2014. At one point, Paikea decides to live with her father because her grandfather says he doesn't want her. Many have been born, but for the village elder all have been disappointments. He is influenced by the symbols of the unfolding world around him. Bridges to Reading Billy is a close friend of Rawiri's and a member of the same biker gang. [2] [3] In 2002 it was adapted into a film, Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro. In this, he is like Paikea who cannot be a chief simply because of her birth: she is a woman. Pai confidently declares she'll find it and dives into the water. 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. Moral-Ethical Emphasis, Assignments and Projects 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. [11][12], This article is about the novel. As in many cultures, the value of ancestors and a reverence for the past shape Maori consciousness. Such is the case with Keisha Castle Hughes. 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. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. [5], The Whale Rider has been a worldwide bestseller, and is the most-translated work by a New Zealand author. Using the Movie in the Classroom I'm not a prophet, but I know that our people will keep going forward, all together, with all of our strength. The Question and Answer section for The Whale Rider is a great Though the film brims with authenticity, it is almost too authentic. Whale Rider (also known as The Whale Rider) is a 2002 New Zealand-German family drama film directed by Niki Caro, based on the novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera.The film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Maori girl who wants to become the chief of the tribe. It also won the 2003 BAFTA Childrens Award. The film ends with Pai's father, grandparents, and uncle coming together to celebrate her status as the new leader, as the finished waka is hauled into the sea for its maiden voyage. 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. It started to break up about 180 million years ago in the Early Jurassic Period. This will presage several scenes in the movie. She does so by doing what Nanny and Rawiri find extremely amazing: Kahu appears to communicate with dolphins and other sea creatures, and through their aid she is able to retrieve the stone. The film contains music by Lisa Gerrard, released on the album Whalerider on 7 July 2003. This is an echo of the earlier symbol of the rope. However his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), survives. Her Grandfather and other sexist men would not have allowed themselves to see Pais full personhood and ability. 12. Because of his status as eldest, he is the default choice for leadership after Koro passes away. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. [7] In 2006 a picture book version illustrated by Bruce Potter was listed as one of the Storylines Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand Notable Books List. See Questions Suitable for Any Film That is a Work of Fiction. 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. 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. Whale Rider stream Whale Rider online for free | Watch online movies through best free 1080p HD videos on desktop, laptop, notebook, tablet, iPhone, iPad, Mac Pro and more. 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 Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. 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. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. The world premiere was on 9 September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was waiting. Kahu is the eldest great-grandchild of chieftain Koro Apirana; had she been a boy, she would have been the natural future leader of the tribe. Koro leads a cultural school for the village's first-born boys, hoping to find a new leader. Jeff then invites Rawiri to accompany him as he returns to help his parents on their plantation in Papua New Guinea. Activities. The symbolic meaning stated by Koro is that each strand of the rope represents an ancestor with the rope being the tribe. 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. The focus shifts to a herd of whales. 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. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role reserved for males only. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Diana Rowan Production Design by Grant Major All the whales of a herd come and to the beach and strand themselves there. Social-Emotional Learning Despite their best efforts, they are not able to do so and Koro returns dejected. 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. Assignments and Projects 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. What important aspects of character are shown at the films end? 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. The bull whale is leading his herd through the frozen waters of Antarctica. whangara iri. Paikea became the ruler of the people who lived on the islands. He notes that when all of the threads are woven together they make a strong rope. Now, so many years after their separation, the nostalgia for their time spent together cuts away at the old bull whale. 1. Koro sees that as a sign of his failure and despairs further. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him. There are several possible reasons. His father was a Chief in Hawaiiki with many wives and numerous children. A small coastal community of Maoris deal daily with being New Zealanders while not being entirely so, particularly hard for a young pubescent lass ostracized because of her sex, despite that she offers hope of continuing traditions. She is a stubborn, determined, and brave women not afraid to stand up to her husband. Possible Problems Pai tells her father to return her home. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. Coming Soon, Regal This part concludes with another momentous event. New Zealand separated from the Antarctic portion of Gondwana about 82 million years ago, becoming geographically isolated. Discussion Questions Relating to Ethical Issues will facilitate the use of this film to teach ethical principles and critical viewing. 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. 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. 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. Overall, I liked Whale Rider, but I don't think I fully got it. Additional questions are set out below. See Assignments, Projects & Activities. The eldest grandson of Koro and the elder brother of Rawiri, Porourangi is the chosen successor for his generation. Two additional interesting assignments are: A. Finally, the Whale Rider script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Niki Caro movie with Keisha Castle-Hughes. Her koro Apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. The Ta moko was predominately for males and among traditional Maori it was rare that a woman would have tattoos. Whale Rider also provides an occasion for research, oral presentations, and essay writing required skills in most ELA curricula. There is no reason he should not be chief. Nanny orders Rawiri not to tell Koro of this strange incident, as he is not yet ready to accept Kahus special status. It is the present day, but the director has been careful not to be specific. subsistance is based on. Enjoy this movie with your children. 1 / 20. Koro decides to begin a language school to teach the future generations the threatened Maori language, and he also beings culture classes for similar purposes. The scenes with Hemi - at the performance when his dad. Part 3 begins, as usual, by focusing on the whale herd. Whale Rider was released on DVD and VHS on 28 October 2004 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. 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. Just confirm how you got your ticket. Cebeci, Ali. 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. Koro is enraged when he finds out, particularly when she wins a taiaha fight against Hemi. Before Europeans arrived, the Maori language was not written. There are several possible ways to express this. 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. Whale Rider streaming: where to watch online? The movie was based on the novel, The Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera. GradeSaver, 6 April 2015 Web. 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 rope breaks and Koro leaves to find another. But a lot of the credit has to go to newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes, who gives an amazingly heartbreaking performance that's incredibly compelling. TALKING AND PLAYING WITH MOVIES: AGES 3-8, FILM ADAPTATIONS OF NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, OR PLAYS, FICTION (SOAPS, DRAMAS, AND REALITY/SURVIVAL SHOW), Worksheet for Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects, Te Ika a Maui: or, New Zealand and its inhabitants, by RR Taylor, p. 379; and. 5. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. Then man arrived from the east, and the relationship between nature and man throve. She leads a group of young girls in a traditional dance and also recites a speech she wrote in the Maori tongue. Moral-Ethical Emphasis 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. Identify some of the scenes in which this struggle is shown. 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. Copyright Fandango. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. Whale Rider premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2002. Discussion Questions 6. Gondwana, also called Gondwanaland, was an ancient supercontinent that incorporated present-day New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica, South America, Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, and India. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. comes - then goes off so soon with his mates. 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. 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. Throughout the film she struggles to try to become the leader causing a heap of conflict. 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. [2] It received $2.5 million from the New Zealand Film Production Fund. See production, box office & company info. ForEnglish Language Arts Classes, the movie offers an opportunity to explore theme and the literary devices of characterization, metaphor, symbol, and foil. Pai feels that she can become the leader (although no woman has ever done so) and is determined to succeed. And if knowledge is given to everyone, we can have lots of leaders. Living in the village or even in New Zealand would have reminded him of this loss. These scenes include those that show Maori families as dysfunctional or Maori people abusing alcohol. Invent a fictitious island inhabited by a tribe you create. Whale Rider watch online free. Pais father can be his own person in Germany, away from the restraints of his father, the tribe, and Maori culture. Hemi..what are their disappointments? But he leads them on anyway to what they know will be their final journey. The old whale remembers the days when man and animal were united and in communication, but those are long past. Hemi makes a joke out of it by purposely farting. 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. Not affiliated with Harvard College. As for Kahu, she has returned to stay with her father longer-term. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". She respects and loves both her grandfather and Maori tribal traditions. Whale Rider - Full Cast & Crew. Although the young New Zealand girl dreams of . [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. For the boy who would be chief." Pai: "My name is Paikea Apirana and I come from a long line of chiefs, stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider" Pai: "There was no gladness when I was born. Unknown to all, she had won an interschool speech contest with a touching dedication to Koro and the traditions of the village. Kahu agrees to come with the herd in the hopes that she will thus save them and save her own people. The karanga occurs in the first 60 seconds of the segment. The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching . and the 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. 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. Our ancestor, Paikea. Kahu herself plays a prominent role in the ceremony. Although Pais grandfather, Koro, loves his granddaughter, he is determined to find a male to serve as his successor. 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. 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). She persists and fights for what she wants. Other songs heard in the film include:[21], This article is about the film. Plan and present a debate on the elimination of gender roles in society. But her Grandfather, Koro Apirana, wanted a male chief for his tradition. 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. [5] The film was shot in Whangara, Te Tai Rwhiti, and in Auckland. Bibliography. 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. Maori tradition provides that only first born sons can be chief. 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.. But then the story shifts to Kahu. This will presage a scene in the film. In an attempt to help, Pai also calls out to them and they hear her call. The beginning of the movie starts out with the birth of 2 fraternal twins, with the grandfather patiently awaiting the birth of the son. " Women, like men, should try to do the impossible, and when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others."-. After the death of his wife and despite overwhelming pressure from Koro, Pai's father refuses to assume traditional leadership or finish the waka that he had started building for the baby son; instead, he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist. It is based on the novel by Witi Ihimaera.