Paikea Apirana (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is a young girl who wants to inherit what only a young make could: the right to be a whale rider, one who rides on top of a whale from Hawaiki. Her grandfather (Rawiri Paratene ) loves her, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, but he also blames her for conflicts happening within the tribe.Paikea decides to leave with her father (Rawiri Paratene) because her grandfather is mistreating her. However she finds that she cannot bear to leave the sea because the whale is calling her back.
Paikea tells her father to turn the car back and returns home. Her father refuses to assume traditional leadership and instead he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist.Paikea is interested in the leadership, learning traditional songs and dances, but is given little encouragement by her grandfather. Paikea believes that she can become the leader, although there’s no precedent for a woman to do so, and is determined to succeed. The culmination of this dream will occur is she can ride the whale.
The movie is filled with a haunting soundtrack by Dead Can Dance’s Lisa Gerrard, including samples of traditional Maori music by Hirini Melbourne. The cinematography beautifully captures the many moods of light and shadow on mountains and sea, as well as stock footage of majestic whales. “Whale Rider” is an uplifting tale of love, loss, and courage, about tradition in the face of change, and believing in yourself.
This is a movie that is uplifting, humane and deeply emotional. Anyone who thinks there is a “man-bashing” agenda here must have brought that particular mindset in with them. There are plenty of men who support Pai in the movie: her dad, her uncle, her friend Hemi (in an ungainly, preteen kind of way). Niki Caro, the cast, and especially Keisha Castle-Hughes (Pai), Rawiri Paratene (Koro) and Vicky Haughton (Nanny Flowers) deserve huge praise for their wonderful work.
Character to watch: Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea Apirana.
Journal your answers to the following questions after you watch the movie.
- How does this particular character’s journey compare with yours?
- Did the character develop certain characteristics during the movie that you have or that you would like to have? If so, what are those characteristics?
- What obstacles did this character face? What was his or her biggest challenge?
- What would you have done differently if you had been in the same position as the character?
- Is this character the type of person you would be friends with? Why or why not?