Koro is heartbroken when he throws his whale bone into the ocean and not one of the boys manages to retrieve it. " Do you think that the whale is as old . The Routledge Encyclopedia of Films, Edited by Sarah Barrow, Sabine Haenni and John White, first published in 2015. The summary of The Whale Rider is about a young girl, named Pai, who wants to be chief. Fearing that his granddaughter has drowned Koro finally understands that it was Pai all along who was destined to be the tribes new leader, finally accepting that he must adapt his cultural beliefs. "There livedwhile the country was yet a province of Great Britain, a simple . The most rewarding of these is that of Pai and her grandfather. assume youre on board with our, https://graduateway.com/analysis-of-the-whale-rider/. Pai's Opening Voice-Over PAI (narrating): In the old days the land felt a great emptiness that was waiting, waiting to be filled up, waiting for someone to love her, waiting for a leader. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. This shows how she has leadership, since the rope represents the ancestors and by her grandfather breaking the rope shows how the culture has been broken apart. Antonio Sison, World Cinema, Theology, and the Human: Humanity in Deep Focus, New York, Routledge, 2012. Clock is ticking and inspiration doesn't come? An enduring issue is one that many groups across time have attempted to solve with wildly varying degrees of success. This is traditionally reserved for males. Though there is a recurrent and overarching feeling of great-whale-in-the-sea calm, strength and beauty, there is a strong undercurrent of emotional turmoil, with which each of the main characters struggle., A physical journey is more than a physical movement. On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. A film adaptation was made in 2002 that would go on to win several awards. Stephanie loves to read and has a bachelors degree in History. 2023's Most Anticipated Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-offs. Porourangi would be next in line but has no interest in returning home. In the Paikea tribe, only the first-born son should be the leader of the tribe, which proves difficult for Paikea, since she is a female. 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 Chief of their tribe is her grandfather Koro, but there is no one to in line after him. Nanny Flowers: Pais grandmother Porourangi: Pais father Rawiri: Pais uncle 1. And he came on the back of a whale, a man to lead a new people, our ancestor, Paikea Much to his dismay, none of the boys retrieve the pendant and Koro returns to shore, despondent. Even when Pai becomes rather proficient in taiana fighting, this still does not prove to Koro that she is good enough to be a leader of the people. It would have been Pais father or her twin brother if either of them were still around. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. On her journey to become the leader of the tribe, she comes across numerous amounts of challenges from her grandfather, Koro. Whale Rider is a contemporary re-telling of the 1000-year-old legend about legendary first ancestor named Paikea. Analysis: The Plight Of Captive Killer Whales These animals aren't happy or healthy and keeping them in captivity is inhumane. the boat is called a waka What was the whales name in. . Koro tells Kahu that he loves her regardless of whether she is a girl or a boy, and he names her the new leader, called Paikea, just like the founder of their tribe. Unable to cope with the loss of his wife and son, Porourangi emigrates to Europe to pursue a career as an artist, turning his back on his Maori heritage and repurposing his traditional carving skills towards a more international and commercial market. The notion of journey is apparent is Beneath Clouds by Ivan Sen, as well as in related texts Stand By Me by Rob Reiner and Bushwalking by Phillip Rush. Meet Kahu, a young Maori girl, and follow her journey as she contradicts the roles females are expected to play. Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes (Paikea), Rawiri Paratene (Koro), Cliff Curtis (Porourangi), Grant Roa (Rawiri).]. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. 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 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. Sep 30, 2014. By tradition the heir . To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. 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. Caro effectively uses the different generations starting with the eldest, that of Koro and other traditional leaders, to the youngest generation of Paikea through a complex story that shows traditional change. characters are most like you. 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. The story takes place in the small town Whangara in New Zealand. When Kahu is nine years old, a group of about 200 whales are stranded in shallow waters. He doesnt see that Pai is the leader that the people of Maori have been waiting for. Choose your writer among 300 professionals! 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 people from Maori have been waiting for so long that they have lost hope and flight of people. 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. They are a replication of the broadly understood human culture (Falassi, 1987). for only $16.05 $11/page. succeed. Whale Rider shows so many interesting and emotional themes: failure and hope, strength, and determination, all of them are witnessed in the points of past, present, and future ideals. But Koro always rejected Pai just because she's a girl. For Brief Language and A Momentary Drug Reference, HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. Since the largest whale traditionally belongs to the legendary Paikea. We will write a custom Essay on Face Negotiation Theory in the Film "Whale Rider" specifically for you. 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. The film Whale rider is considered to be a personal and family drama, showing that families even in the most far away parts of the world have similar relations and personal problems. Please note! Study for free with our range of university lectures! berkeley Synopsis Ever since the time of the whale rider, Kahu's tribe has been ruled by a male chief. Challenge. Despite his anger, he will come, won't he? Choose skilled expert on your subject and get original paper with free plagiarism The following chapter will compare and contrast the content, the structure, e.g. The play Away by Michael Gow as well as the Poem Sail Through Your Emotions, Don't Sink by Bashyam Narayanan and The Film Into the wild by Sean Penn all display the concept of the physical journey through their use of dialogue, language, structure and theme. So the focus of the eye humanizes the whale and connects the young girl to the animal. Porourangis unfinished te waka (ceremonial canoe) is left abandoned on the beach, acting as a constant reminder to Koro of his unfulfilled mission to anoint another male heir to tribal leadership (Sison 2012: 122). Traveling, in basketball, is a player taking too many steps without dribbling. This book is called The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. Koros high standards make him look stubborn and that is why he pushes Pai away from him. Which will talk about where she comes from. Koros youngest son Rawiri, meanwhile, has turned to drugs and alcohol as a form of escape, whilst the younger children of the tribe laugh and joke as Maori rituals are performed on the marea, more concerned with football and cigarettes. This shows how Koro does not want anything to do with Pai. Get entertainment recommendations for your unique personality and find out which of 5,500+ The story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her . Her grandfather, who is her Herald in a way, condemns her for issues within the tribe. The movie seems headed for the ancient cliche of the auditorium door which opens at the last moment to reveal the person that the child onstage desperately hopes to see--but no, that's not what happens. While he does later form an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also resents her and blames her for many of the troubles facing the tribe. But, no, her people need her--whether or not her grandfather realizes it. 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. The families of Maori have also become ruptured for example, when Hemi goes up to present his father only stays for a little while to watch him then leaves with his friends. There are moments when Pai is lost in discouragement and despair, and when her father comes for a visit she almost leaves with him. Free shipping for many products! Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, and Whangaras citizens do their best to carry on their traditions in the modern day. Spirituality & Practice: Resources for Spiritual Journeys Eventually, her birthfather, Porourangi, comes back and describes his current situation in life; how he lives in Germany and has a great life with a new woman, who is pregnant. Similar to Things Fall Apart, the film Whale Rider by Niki Caro explores the breakdown of Maori culture in post-colonial New Zealand. All rights reserved. The movie, written and directed by Niki Caro, inspired by a novel by Witi Ihimaera, describes these events within the rhythms of daily life. Graduateway.com is owned and operated by Radioplus Experts Ltd However, Pai is female and technically cannot inherit the leadership. However she finds that she cannot bear to leave the sea as the whale seems to be calling her back, tells her father to turn the car back and returns home. Identity can be assumed as the state of being oneself. "Our Koro was like an old whale stranded in an alien present, but that was how it was supposed to be, because he also had his role in the pattern of things, in the tides of the future". She made a loud sound and the whales dove into the water, as if Kahu was warning them. The whole village comes together to save them, but they end up dying. A special attention should be paid to a the concept of shadows in the story, as it has an important meaning. This film combines elements of history, traditions, depicting them from the point of view of a child, that sees the world not in black and white terms. Koro had believed that Porourangis first-born was destined to be the boy who would be chief, responsible for leading the community into a new age of prosperity, and he initially refuses to acknowledge his granddaughter. How indigenous societies must fight through the legal system to gain title to their land.. Which gives citizens the right to uphold laws when governments are too scared to do so. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Personality determined, wise, and sensitive. Koros teachings of earlier cultural practices, ceremonies and mythologies help to shore up community identity in the present, with the effects of colonialism being implied as possible cause of the tribes present day problems, such as youthful apathy, lack of direction and urban drift (Wilson 2011: 204). Pais father refuses to assume traditional leadership; instead he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist. Pai later proves herself to Koro at the near end of the book. Porourangi refuses to assume traditional leadership. Registration number: 419361 First of all, because Paikea is a woman, she is not fit to be the Maori leader. Even the elder women of the community are shown playing cards and smoking. As well as this journeys can be a positive and negative experience. Interests whatever the boys are doing. Pai is a free-spirited tomboy. Whale Rider 15th Anniversary Edition . The girl grows up being certain of her calling to be the next tribe leader. The beginning of the film 'Whale Rider' introduces the characters in a close-up camera shot. Kahu's great-grandfather Koro is chief of the tribe, but because of his old age he is worried about who will be his heir. 2. At the beginning of the film, we see that Koro genuinely cares for his granddaughter, but his disappointment about her gender is evident. 545 Words3 Pages. This technique stresses the notion of even items separated by time being interconnected which makes them part of the oneness of the world. Pai herself is interested in the leadership, learning traditional songs and dances, but is given little encouragement by her grandfather. By continuing well It does not march obediently to standard plot requirements but develops an unexpected crisis and an unexpected solution. The picture book by Colin Thompson,, Beneath the Clouds, Ivan Sen, Road Movie 2002, shows perceptions of personal discovery. No plagiarism, guaranteed! The story then leaps forward 11 years, by which time Koro has developed a strong, (albeit slightly belligerent) affection for his granddaughter, who he only ever calls Pai, denying the true power and meaning of her full name. This story has a strong female leader who never gave up in what she thought her destiny was. She understood my main topic well and follow the instruction accordingly. However, Pai is female and technically cannot inherit the leadership. 'The Whale Rider' tells the story of a girl destined to be a leader of her people. Shes only twelve years old. As such, the film does not present a simple rejection of modernity, rather it is the recovery of tradition in modernity, and sometimes against identity, that makes possible the renewal of identity of Paikeas people (Smith 2006: 116). Koro takes it upon himself to arrange another partner for his son, a teacher from Pais school, who he believes will deliver Porourangi a male child. It is not just a family film, just an Australian film it is a film that can touch the hearts of millions. Niki Caro's Whale Rider - An analysis in relation to journeys. He left for New Zealand to pursue his art career, leaving Pai behind to be raised by her grandparents and aunts. 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. It's not just an uplifting ending, but a transcendent one, inspired and inspiring, and we realize how special this movie really is. Both are signs of internalized oppression. drug reference momentary along with brief language is Whale Rider Obituaries Death Notices Newspaper Obituaries Online April 30th, 2018 - Legacy com is the leading provider of online obituaries for the . So it may be considered as the film about interpersonal relations. Until one person prepares to make the sacrifice to save the peoplethe Whale Rider. Whale Rider Year: 2002 Director: Niki Caro Rating: PG-13 Communication Concepts: Self-Concept Communication Climate (Disconfirmation) Assertiveness Whale Rider takes place in present day New Zealand, where a 12-year-old girl named Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is growing up in an all-Maori community. Pai feels that she can become the leader, although theres no precedent for a woman to do so, and is determined to succeed. The entire village attempts to coax and drag them back into the water, but all efforts prove unsuccessful; even a tractor doesnt help because the rope breaks. Home / Essay Samples / Entertainment / Movies / Whale Rider. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. The boy and the mother die. cite it correctly. 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. This essay was written by a fellow student. Koros eyes, mirrored in these events, portray a great sadness to the films audience. Chapter 2 gives us the point of view of the whales. Koro attempts to discover their new leader through a cultural reform school solely for the first-born sons of every family. This hero is an unlikely one, a small girl, from a small tribe, in a small village in New Zealand. Whale Rider is the story of a girl, Pai, whose twin brother and mother die in child birth. Koro sees it as a sign of failure and gets upset when Pai is touching the largest whale because he feels she has done enough damage. 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. Whale Rider is a 2002 drama film directed by Niki Caro, based on the novel of the same name. What does the myth of the whale rider explain to the Maori people? Many centuries ago a legendary ancestor named Paikea brought there the Maori people, who still lives there. Pai is found alive and the film closes with the whole tribe embracing their Maori culture, celebrating through traditional Maori rituals. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! The first is of an indigenous girl named Kahu in a New Zealand Maori village who rediscovers the power of her people's belief that their ancestors came to their island on the backs of whales. This raises the question what is family? some symbols in the whale rider are the whale, the whale rider, the waka, and the taiha. The idea of Journey in these texts is portrayed through obstacles, various poetic and film techniques., A physical journey which involves the movement from one place to another can have lasting effects on an individual or group which can be mental, emotional, physical, or a combination. : hey you why are we walking trough? Her father, Porourangi, and Koro convinced Nanny Flowers that this was a good idea. The inner journey is one which involves the hurdling of psychological barriers, as well as cultural and social obstacles, rather than just a physical trek. Paikeas grandmother, Nanny Flowers, reveals that Rawiri was once a champion taiahi fighter, and asks him to tutor Pai. The story takes place in New Zealand where the Maori people of a small village claim descent from the Whale Rider, Paikea. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best Also, the largest whale traditionally belongs to the legendary Paikea. As Koro has made it crystal clear that no girl can ever become chief, its an uphill battle, to say the least. In conclusion, Whale Rider is an accurate representation of modern Maori culture. However, Nanny tells Pai that her second son, Pais uncle, had won a taiaha tournament in his youth while he was still slim, so Pai secretly learns from him. Pai herself is interested in the leadership, learning traditional songs and dances, and Taiaha fighting a traditional stick fighting method used by the Maori men. The film connects with universal themes of adolescence, and tackles topics like loss, courage, self-worth, and community. Janet Wilson, Re-representing Indigeneity: Approaches to History in recent New Zealand Australian Films, in Alistair Fox, Barry Keith Grant and Hilary Radner, (eds), New Zealand Cinema: Interpreting the Past, Bristol, Intellect, 2011, pp. Whale Rider is about the current chief, Koro, having to accept that the tradition of the first born males becoming the next chief will have change, and the challenges he has to overcome by letting a female become leader and breaking the tradition and letting a girl be in control. Relationship Status unattached. hey you why are you so cruel? The leader is usually a male, and because pai is a female, her grandfather, koro is unhappy about her birth. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Im not a prophet, but I know that our people will keep going forward, all together, with all of our strength. This helps to show that although the tradition was broken when she was born she is willing to be the new change and be the leader Maori has been waiting for. We`ll do boring work for you. Porourangi offers to take Paikea with him back to Europe, but as she looks out to sea she feels the pull of her ancestors and cannot abandon her heritage. This confidence was shattered when all boys failed in his final test of leadership, they have lost Koros closest symbolic representation of his faith: the whales tooth. Pai shows the strengths of a leader through out the whole video but her grandfather does not notice it. Need a custom essay sample written specially to meet your On the other hand, it is a drama about relationship of a young girl and her grandfather. She has used a number of cinematic techniques in this film to create atmosphere and sometimes show what the character is feeling. 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. They attempt to move the largest bull whale using a tractor, but it is a problem that cannot be resolved by modern technology. match. In The Whale Rider, Kahu is a young Maori girl who wants to be the chief of her tribe, but cannot be because in her culture that role is only for men. The book argues that Rider Haggard's She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, Bram Stoker's female vampires and Conrad's destructive Malayan or African women, even Hardy's Tess, are all caught up in a series of late 19th-century contexts: biological determinism, imperialism, race, theories about female sexuality, degeneration and evolutionary theory. They added tobacco and corn due to those ideas being popular. Consequently, people must boycott companies like SeaWorld so that captive orcas can be set free into sanctuaries. This novel unfolds the history of the Maori Tribe that by tradition the new chief would be the first born son directly descended from their ancient ancestor Paikea. Eventually, he begins teaching classes that teach the young boys how to act like true tribesmen. And if that were not bad enough, Paikea (Pai) lost her father as well. The old whale serves as a comparison to Koro. Though the film has a strong female character, there are still male dominant elements throughout it. Indeed, as Ryan Mottesheard (2003) argues, the film should be understood less as anthropological study of the Maori people, than a universal story of female empowerment, thus highlighting the films global appeal. account. Koro, Pai's grandfather and leader of the Maori tribe, is devastated that their future leader has died. When Pai is found and brought to the hospital, Koro declares her the leader and asks her forgiveness. Lyrics to Whalerider What's in Your Head? In every generation for more than one thousand years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title. Amelia Earhart. . There is a scene set at a school ceremony, where Pai has composed a work in honor of her people and asked her grandfather to attend. Koro, who is the Chief of the Maori tribe, is the other important character of the film. Teaching Resources for Middle Grade & Young Adult Books, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Teaching Death & Loss in Children's Books, Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin Discussion Questions, Iqbal: A Novel - Book Summary & Characters, American Born Chinese: Book Summary, Analysis & Themes, American Born Chinese: Book Characters & Quotes, American Born Chinese Discussion Questions, Journey of the Sparrows Summary & Characters, Wonder by R.J. Palacio: Summary & Characters, Pre-Reading Activities for Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Wonder by R.J. 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