WHALE RIDER

Based on the novel by Witi Ihimaera, Whale Rider is the critically-accalimed independent film by Niki Caro. It’s a quiet story, slow in its movement and old-fashioned in its rendering. Yet. It’s also a modern film with a strong underlying feminist theme that patriarchal thinking should be a thing of the past. Apart from that, this film showcases people and style of living not normally depicted in most films we have seen, and an unbelievable performance by first-time Keisha Castle-Hughes that keeps the film from falling apart during key emotional scenes.

This film is set in New Zealand, where the legend has it that the native people came there following their leader, a boy who heroically rode on the back of a whale. From that day forward, tradition has been to give leadership to direct descendants of that leader of old, but tragedy occurs when opposite-sexed twins are born, having the boy baby and the mother not making through the delivery but the survival of the baby girl. The chain is broken, as tradition has it that only first-born male descendant may be the leader. The girl, Pai, grows into an adventurous and talented person of her own, but her grandfather Koro has no need for spirited girls to try to be the leader. Koro starts a school to teach the olden traditions, and hope he can find a boy among the village to rise to the occasion and show leadership for the people who now have none. All signs point to Pai, but traditions are meant to be upheld.

Outside of the impressive performances by the fine cast, Whale Rider benefits from the fact that It is about a people and traditions mostly unknown to those not in the area. The depiction of their customs and lifestyles are authentically recreated within the story, showing the power of music (incredible Haka performances), poetry (Maori chanting), and ancient fighting techniques that the people of that region hold very dear.

The feminist leanings are a bit obvious, especially when we have had many such stories of our own comings, but it must be remembered that there are places where such a thing as a girl leader are completely unheard of, perhaps the vast majority of the world still falls under adamant patriarchal values set forth from their very beginnings. It is in those places that the message might actually be groundbreaking, and strides might be made to change attitudes from a system that has been going on for hundreds of years. In that case, this film is a well-made film, a coming-of-age tale sort s, not only for young girl, but also for people struggling to maintain an identity and cohesion. 

"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. I'm not a prophet, but I know that our people will keep going forward, all together, with all of their strength. "