But her Grandfather, Koro Apirana, wanted a male chief for his tradition. When she goes out to sea, Nanny Flowers shows Koro the whale tooth which Pai had previously recovered. Unfortunately the tradition was broken when Pais twin brother passes away. Her father refuses leadership, and returns to Germany, but Paikea is interested, even though she is a female and it goes against all tradition. RyanMottesheard, Girl Power: New ZealandWriter/ Director Niki Caro Talks About Whale Rider, IndieWire, June 6, 2003. Koro is the chief of these people. Fall 2014. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. : Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church, MI, Baker Academic, 2006. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones | Summary, Themes & Analysis, Themes in A Brave and Startling Truth by Maya Angelou | Examples & Analysis, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Summary & Analysis, The Drover's Wife: Summary, Themes & Analysis, Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange | Facts & Photograph Analysis, A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen | Summary, Characters & Analysis, Observing Changes in Natural Phenomena Over Time, On the Sidewalk Bleeding by Evan Hunter | Summary & Themes, A Midsummer Night's Dream Language: Techniques & Analysis, Native American Oral Tradition | Heritage, Influence & Mythology, Elizabeth in Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen | Context, Character & Analysis, "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Summary & Themes, Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde | Quotes, Analysis & Summary, Biddy in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens | Character & Analysis, Little Red Riding Hood | Theme, Moral & Analysis, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros | Summary, Analysis & Themes, The Man With the Twisted Lip: Themes & Analysis, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle | Conflicts & Analysis. match. Paikea: My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. "Man might carve his mark on the earth, but unless he's vigilant, Nature will take it all back.". It can mean that one has self-respect, but it can also mean that one is arrogant and has a huge ego. These are their battles this is their war., Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by language, religion, social habits, traditions, stories and music. to help you write a unique paper. The film under analysis is called Whale Rider and focuses on the story of the Maori girl Pai who is interested in becoming the leader of her tribe. 10 of the best book quotes from The Whale Rider. As for Pai, all she wants to do is to earn Koros respect this point is brightly illustrated in the scene where she gives a speech dedicated to Koro. I recite these facts right at the top of this review because I fear you might make a hasty judgment that you don't want to see a movie about a 12-year-old Maori girl who dreams of becoming the chief of her people. A letter she wrote to Rawiri while he was in Papua New Guinea read, "'I am seven. The Whale Rider tells two stories. She struggles to gain the approval of her grandfather and her people. Eventually the rest of the tribe make their way to the shore, with the beached whales igniting in them a communal strength they believed was forgotten as they work tirelessly to lure the whales back towards the ocean. Director Niki Caro Writers Niki Caro Witi Ihimaera (book "The Whale Rider") Stars Keisha Castle-Hughes Rawiri Paratene Vicky Haughton See production, box office & company info Watch on Freevee Challenge. Free shipping for many products! Pai climbs onto the back of the whale and makes it re-enter the ocean. She climbs on the back of the ancient bull whale as it dives deep into the sea. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths and Helen Tiffin, Key Concepts in Post-Colonial Studies, London and New York, Routledge, 1998. She made a loud sound and the whales dove into the water, as if Kahu was warning them. what's in your head? Porourangi refuses to assume traditional leadership. Sponsored. They are going there to do whatever is necessary to make sure Japan does not kill any whales as it is illegal to kill whales in this sanctuary in Antarctica. Rawiri takes up the challenge with fervour and not only trains Paikea to be the best in the tribe but also recovers his own sense of identity and self worth. (Smith 2006: 113). Koro is equally as upset because he feels that this is a sign for his people. This hero is an unlikely one, a small girl, from a small tribe, in a small village in New Zealand. She rises to her grandfathers disapproval and even Whale Rider tells the story of Pai, who faces the subtle resentment of her grandfather Koro as he attempts to re-establish the old traditions of their ancestors. He teaches the boys to use a taiaha (fighting stick). The entire village trys to drag them back into the water but, where unsuccessful. He is certain that through a process of teaching the ancient chants, tribal lore and warrior techniques, the future leader of their tribe will be revealed to him. We`ll do boring work for you. Free delivery for many products! In the arena of urban international competitiveness, cities try to raise their profile by We use cookies to offer you the best experience. When the whale accepts Kahu as a leader, Koro does as well. On her journey to become the leader of the tribe, she comes across numerous amounts of challenges from her grandfather, Koro. report, Analysis of the Whale Rider. Much to his dismay, none of the boys retrieve the pendant and Koro returns to shore, despondent. Issues such as cultural differences and gender equality are presented by the composers through the clever use of devices appropriate to the medium, while using the post-colonial context to accentuate these issues. This essay has been submitted by a student. After Koro realizes how sacred and special Kahu is, he sees the error of his ways and finally accepts Kahu. These texts show how the physical journey affects the travellers and causes a change in them., Niki Caro directed the film 'The Whale Rider'. Choose your writer among 300 professionals! Whale Rider is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of Witi Ihimaera, and directed by Niki Caro. Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand drama film written and directed by Niki Caro.Based on the 1987 novel The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Mori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. In one of the scenes Koro and Pai are talking about a speech Pai has to do for school. Pai feels, that she can become the leader, but it is impossible for a woman to do so, and she is given little encouragement by her grandfather. No plagiarism guarantee. While the grandfather is explaining about the ancestors, hes trying to start the engine but the rope breaks. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Whale Rider DVD *FULL OF HOPE & WONDER* Mori + English + Eng Subs at the best online prices at eBay! But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Consequently, people must boycott companies like SeaWorld so that captive orcas can be set free into sanctuaries. cite it correctly. The theme ofWhale Rideris female empowerment is not unique, but the context in which it is presented is very interesting and unusual. The myth about Paikea says that he was rescued by a whale, after his canoe was lost in the sea. He causes Pai much hurt by doubting her, questioning her achievements, insisting in the face of everything she achieves that she is only a girl. When Paikea expresses her interest she is excluded by her grandfather, who is adamant that a woman should not be involved in learning about tribal leadership. First of all, because Paikea is a woman, she is not fit to be the Maori leader. They initially find this strange in comparison to their modern lives but they gradually become more accustomed to Maori customs, especially the taiahi a ritual fighting stick. While the movie Whale Rider is set in New Zealand and reflects Mori traditions and culture, it's relatable to kids everywhere. Summary, Pages 3 (537 words) Views. After being told for so many years that she is worthless because she is a girl, Pai is also struggling to find acceptance and love. Throughout the novel, Ihimaera juxtaposes the migration of a herd of whales with the Maori tribe's search for a male heir. . " Do you think that the whale is as old . When Koro tries to look for another rope, Pai ties the rope together and starts the engine. A man who removed a whale fossil from a riverbank at Little Wanganui on the West Coast has apologised for his actions, but the exact fate of the treasured taonga remains unknown. Pequea Makita. Pai states, My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. However, Koro fails to notice that Pai, although an eleven year old girl, is destined to be the new leader. What is more, Porourangi has returned with his German fianc to finish his waka and celebrate with his people. The Film 'Whale Rider' uses cinematic techniques such as camera angles as an element to emphasise emotion and reactions to circumstances and conflict. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. This is not a simplistic fable but the story of real people living in modern times. Pai sympathises with Koro and prays to her ancestors for help, with a voice-over revealing, They heard me, initiating the films most iconic and emotional sequence. The Whangara believe their people date back to a single ancestor, Paikea, who survived when his boat capsized in the middle of the ocean by riding to shore on the back of a whale. By the uncle being lazy he has gained weight and is not slim like before. Summary amp Characters Study com. The following chapter will compare and contrast the content, the structure, e.g. Indeed, as Sison suggests, the cultural milieu of Whale Rider is characterised by the ongoing Maori quest for soul and identity in the postcolonial aftermath (Sison 2012: 122), and it is these themes, as well as female empowerment, which underpin the narrative. The other roles are also strongly cast, especially Rawiri Paratene and Vicky Haughton as the grandparents. Pai is just a young girl in the beginning of the film, and a leader in the end. Also, the largest whale traditionally belongs to the legendary Paikea. Pai is a free-spirited tomboy. These three well-used techniques are camera shots, lighting and sound and dialogue. Interests whatever the boys are doing. The rope proceeds to break when he tests it, which is further indication to Koro that the sacred line of the tribe is broken, that their ancestors have abandoned them in the face of modernity. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Her family thought she would die, but they soon realize that she is the whale rider. So it may be considered as the film about interpersonal relations. Another reason why Koro pushes her away is because he believes that everything went wrong when she was born. Pais koro, Apirana, or Old Paka as his wife Nanny Flowers calls him, the leader of the tribe, is initially angry at losing his grandson and being left with a worthless female. Meet Kahu, a young Maori girl, and follow her journey as she contradicts the roles females are expected to play. The novel Things Fall Apart (1958) by Chinua Achebe and the film Whale Rider (2002) by Niki Caro both address the overcoming of emotional boundaries, while following the progress of the main characters. The Chief of their tribe is her grandfather Koro, but there is no one to in line after him. In the end everyone from the village is celebrating her status as a leader, and working together, the waka is finished and is taken into the sea. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny. 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. But Pai has several surprises for her tradition-bound grandfather that will open his eyes and the rest of the tribe to her true destiny. By continuing, well assume you agree with our Cookies policy. One day Koro summons all of the young teenage boys of the village to a series of compulsory lessons on how to be a Maori, and the leader of Maoris. The Whale Rider Witi Ihimaera 3.83 9,773 ratings1,111 reviews Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather's love and attention. The stoic mysticism of Niki Caro's cool-handed charmer ''Whale Rider'' -- in which the young Pai must overcome resistance as she tries to assume her destiny as the leader of a tribe on the New. The film is from New Zealand, though it has many Australian elements, it shows the connection between the land and the native people. Though she is loved by her grandfather named Koro, who is the Chief of the Maori tribe, she is not accepted as a future leader, and as a person as well. Pai later proves herself to Koro at the near end of the book. Based on Witi Ihimaeras novel of the same name, Niki Caros Whale Rider is a moving depiction of a young Maori girl battling to overturn the patriarchal traditions of her Ngati Konohi tribal community. When she returns, her grandfather acts as if nothing has happened, and focuses more on the task at hand, finding somebody to lead the tribe. This time, while no one is looking, Kahu jumps into the water and talks to the whales. Create your account, 4 chapters | 194 lessons. Pais father refuses to assume traditional leadership; instead he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist. It follows the journeys of Pai, a young girl, and Koro, her grandfather, who both seek to uphold and preserve the Maori tradition, which has been negatively influenced by the European culture. She uses her gifts of communicating with nature to save a beached pod of whales, and because of that she is finally accepted. Pais father leaves her because he doesnt believe that there is such thing as a leader and shows that he does not want any part of the culture. The Whale Rider by Witt Alhambra has many important themes that are represented by several characters in the text such as Koru Farina, who struggles to put aside traditional values and struggles to input moored values. It won the audience awards as the most popular film at both the Toronto and Sundance film festivals, played to standing ovations, left audiences in tears. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. It has a lot of awards through the world: BAFTA Childrens Award, Best Feature Film 2003; Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, Best Young Actor/Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes) 2004; Chicago Film Critics Association Award, Most Promising Performer (Keisha Castle-Hughes) 2004; Cinemanila International Film Festival, Special Jury Prize 2003; Humanitas Prize, Sundance Film Category 2003; Independent Spirit Award, Best Foreign Film (New Zealand) 2004; Mexico City International Contemporary Film Festival and others. Kahu's great-grandmother Nanny Flowers loves Kahu and does not care that she is not a boy, and has tried to convince Koro to accept her. The film ends with the village, including Pais father, uncle, and grandparents, celebrating her status as leader, as the finished waka is hauled into the sea for its maiden voyage. By tradition the heir . In the beginning, the Manchu people were into agriculture. They attempt to move the largest bull whale using a tractor, but it is a problem that cannot be resolved by modern technology. "Whale Rider" arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audience-grabbers of recent years. Analysis: The Plight Of Captive Killer Whales These animals aren't happy or healthy and keeping them in captivity is inhumane. The negative side of pride can be seen in both the play Antigone, written Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) translated as The Brave-Hearted Will Take Away the Bride is romantic bollywood film directed in 1995 by Aditaya Chopra. Koro is bitterly disappointed when Porourangi announces to his family that he already has a pregnant lover in Germany and will not be returning home with the child, putting an end to Koros aspirations. Upon accepting Rawiri undergoes a transformation, immediately feeling at one with his ancient tribal heritage: This artefact of tradition has an almost sacramental character and seems to immediately recall him to himself, to remind him of not only who he is but who is called to be. Before man, "in the years that have gone before us, the land and sea felt a great emptiness, a yearning" (8). WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF INTERNALIZED OPPRESSION Porourangi worked on building a Waka (canoe), a Maori cultural tradition, before the birth of his twins but due to his loss of wife and son, he stops and moves to Germany. Whale Rider, then, challenges the lineage of male dominance, with Paikeas plight serving as symbolic indictment of the mores of patriarchy, and a call for greater inclusiveness (Sison 2012: 129). The validity of Woolfs claims is seen through Pais actions and outlooks where her androgynous mind and woman-manly characteristic allows for the full spectrum of being human; having both male and 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. 'The Whale Rider' tells the story of a girl destined to be a leader of her people. The old culture is continuously struggling to keep alive, to keep its people, its unigue traditions and customs, in a quickly changing world, that leaves the past behind. The composers of different texts all employ a number of different techniques to convey, to the reader, their ideas about a journey and the impact that the journey being taken may have on an individual or group. By what name was Whale Rider (2002) officially released in India in English?