Whale Rider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whale Rider |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Niki Caro |
| Produced by | John Barnett Frank Hübner Tim Sanders |
| Screenplay by | Niki Caro |
| Narrated by | Keisha Castle-Hughes |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Lisa Gerrard |
| Cinematography | Leon Narbey |
| Editing by | David Coulson |
| Studio | South Pacific Pictures ApolloMedia Pandora Film New Zealand Film Production Fund New Zealand Film Commission NZ On Air Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen |
| Distributed by | Pandora Film (Germany) |
| Release date(s) | 11 September 2002 (Toronto) 30 January 2003 (New Zealand) 25 July 2003 (Germany) |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | New Zealand Germany |
| Language | English Māori |
| Budget | NZ$$9.2 million (approx. US$3.5 million) |
| Money made | $41.4 million |
Whale Rider is a family drama film from New Zealand and Germany. It was released in 2002. The movie was written and directed by Niki Caro.
The story is based on a 1987 book called The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. The film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana. She is a twelve-year-old Māori girl. Pai, as she is called, wants to become the chief of her tribe. However, her grandfather, Koro Apirana, believes only males can be chief.
The movie was filmed in Whangara, New Zealand. This is the same place where the book's story happens. Whale Rider first showed at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2002. Critics loved the film.
Keisha Castle-Hughes was only 13 when she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was the youngest nominee for this award at the time. The film made $41.4 million worldwide. Its budget was about NZ$9.2 million. In 2005, Whale Rider was listed as one of the "50 Films You Should See By the Age of 14."
Contents
Story of Whale Rider
The film tells the story of Paikea Apirana, also known as Pai. Her village believes the leader should be the first-born son. This son must be a direct descendant of Paikea, the first Whale Rider. He rode on a whale from a place called Hawaiki.
Pai was born a twin. Sadly, her twin brother and her mother died during childbirth. Because Pai is a girl, she cannot become the leader. Her grandfather, Koro, loves her and takes her to school. But he also blames her for problems in the tribe.
Pai's father, Porourangi, does not want to be the leader. He moves to Germany to become an artist. He leaves even though Koro wants him to stay. Pai tries to live with her father for a while. Koro had told her he did not want her. But Pai feels the sea calling her back. She asks her father to take her home.
Finding a New Leader
Koro starts a special school for the village's first-born boys. He hopes to find a new leader among them. He teaches the boys how to use a taiaha, a traditional fighting stick. This is usually only for males. Pai is very interested in these lessons. But Koro tells her off for trying to learn.
Pai believes she can be the leader, even though no woman has ever done it. She is determined to succeed. Her grandmother, Nanny, tells Pai that her uncle once won a taiaha contest. Pai secretly learns from her uncle. She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. One of the boys, Hemi, is kind to her.
Koro gets very angry when he finds out about Pai. He is especially upset when she beats Hemi in a taiaha fight. Koro is sad when none of the boys can find the rei puta (whale tooth). He threw it into the ocean as a test. Finding it would prove they are worthy to be leader. Koro calls out to the ancient whales in his sadness. Pai also calls out to them, and they hear her.
Pai's Discovery
One day, Pai goes out on a boat with her uncle and his girlfriend, Shilo. They go to the place where Koro threw the rei puta. Pai says she will find it and dives into the water. She finds the rei puta. This means she is the rightful leader. Nanny does not tell Koro right away. She thinks he is not ready to accept it.
Pai tries to make things better with Koro. She invites him to be her special guest at a school concert. The concert features Māori chants. Pai had won a speech contest at school. Her speech was a touching dedication to Koro and her village's traditions. Koro was late to the concert. As he walked, he saw many southern right whales stuck on the beach near Pai's home.
The Whales and the New Chief
The whole village tries to help the whales get back into the water. They try to pull them, but nothing works. Even a tractor cannot help. Koro sees this as a sign of his own failure. He tells Pai not to touch the largest whale. He says she has "done enough" damage. Also, the largest whale belongs to the legendary Paikea.
When Koro walks away, Pai climbs onto the back of the biggest whale. She gently encourages it to go back into the ocean. The whale then leads all the other whales back to sea. Pai goes completely underwater. Everyone fears she has drowned. But Pai is found and taken to the hospital. Koro then declares her the leader. He asks for her forgiveness.
The film ends with Pai's family celebrating her new role as chief. Her father, grandparents, and uncle are all there. The waka (canoe) that Pai's father started building is now finished. It is launched into the sea for its first trip. Pai says in a voiceover, "My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs. I know our people will keep going forward, all together, with all of our strength."
Main Actors
- Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea Apirana (Pai)
- Rawiri Paratene as Koro (Pai's grandfather)
- Vicky Haughton as Nanny Flowers (Pai's grandmother)
- Cliff Curtis as Porourangi (Pai's father)
- Grant Roa as Uncle Rawiri
- Mana Taumaunu as Hemi
- Rachel House as Shilo
- Taungaroa Emile as Willie
- Tammy Davis as Dog
- Mabel Wharekawa as Maka
- Rawinia Clarke as Miro
- Tahei Simpson as Miss Parata
- Roi Taimana as Hemi's Dad
- Elizabeth Skeen as Rehua
- Tyronne White as Jake
- Taupua Whakataka-Brightwell as Ropata
- Tenia McClutchie-Mita as Wiremu
- Peter Patuwai as Bubba
- Rutene Spooner as Parekura
- Riccardo Davis as Maui
- Apiata Whangaparita-Apanui as Henare
- John Sumner as Obstetrician
- Sam Woods as Young Rawiri
- Pura Tangira as Ace
- Jane O'Kane as Anne
- Aumuri Parata-Haua as Baby Paikea
Music from the Film
The music for Whale Rider was created by Lisa Gerrard. The soundtrack album was released on July 7, 2003.
- Bar One (International Observer) Loaded Sounds - International Observer
- Kaikoura Dub - Pitch Black
- U Want Beef - Deceptikonz
- Voice / Percussion Loop - Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns from Te Ku Te Whe
- Jast Passing Through - Nick Theobald
See also
In Spanish: Whale Rider para niños
