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Whale Rider

  • 20022002
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
42K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Whale Rider (2002)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:24
2 Videos
82 Photos
  • Drama
  • Family

A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
42K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Niki Caro
  • Writers
    • Niki Caro
    • Witi Ihimaera(book "The Whale Rider")
  • Stars
    • Keisha Castle-Hughes
    • Rawiri Paratene
    • Vicky Haughton
Top credits
  • 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
    • 374User reviews
    • 139Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 33 wins & 35 nominations total

    Videos2

    Whale Rider
    Trailer 2:24
    Whale Rider
    A Guide to the Films of Niki Caro
    Clip 1:27
    A Guide to the Films of Niki Caro

    Photos82

    Niki Caro in Whale Rider (2002)
    Cliff Curtis in Whale Rider (2002)
    Whale Rider (2002)
    Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider (2002)
    Rawiri Paratene in Whale Rider (2002)
    Vicky Haughton and Rawiri Paratene in Whale Rider (2002)
    Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider (2002)
    Rawiri Paratene and Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider (2002)
    Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider (2002)
    Rawiri Paratene in Whale Rider (2002)
    Keisha Castle-Hughes at an event for Whale Rider (2002)
    Keisha Castle-Hughes at an event for Whale Rider (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Keisha Castle-Hughes
    Keisha Castle-Hughes
    • Paikeaas Paikea
    Rawiri Paratene
    Rawiri Paratene
    • Koroas Koro
    Vicky Haughton
    Vicky Haughton
    • Nanny Flowersas Nanny Flowers
    Cliff Curtis
    Cliff Curtis
    • Porourangias Porourangi
    Grant Roa
    Grant Roa
    • Uncle Rawirias Uncle Rawiri
    Mana Taumaunu
    Mana Taumaunu
    • Hemias Hemi
    Rachel House
    Rachel House
    • Shiloas Shilo
    Taungaroa Emile
    Taungaroa Emile
    • Willieas Willie
    Tammy Davis
    • Dogas Dog
    Mabel Wharekawa
    • Makaas Maka
    • (as Mabel Wharekawa-Burt)
    Rawinia Clarke
    • Miroas Miro
    Tahei Simpson
    • Miss Parataas Miss Parata
    Roi Taimana
    • Hemi's Dadas Hemi's Dad
    • (as Roimata Taimana)
    Elizabeth Skeen
    • Rehuaas Rehua
    Tyronne White
    • Jakeas Jake
    • (as Tyrone White)
    Taupua Whakataka-Brightwell
    • Ropataas Ropata
    Tenia McClutchie-Mita
    • Wiremuas Wiremu
    Peter Patuwai
    • Bubbaas Bubba
    • Director
      • Niki Caro
    • Writers
      • Niki Caro
      • Witi Ihimaera(book "The Whale Rider")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny. —berkeley
    • whale
    • maori
    • girl
    • tradition
    • new zealand
    • 93 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • One young girl dared to confront the past, change the present and determine the future
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Family
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for brief language and a momentary drug reference
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The whales in the movie are a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI. Keisha Castle-Hughes said the key whale riding scene took place 15-20 miles offshore, and was terrifying.
    • Goofs
      The father and grandfather argue after the slide show, and the father goes to pull down the white sheet that was hung over some drapes to act as a screen. He pulls it down, along with the rod and orange drapes that the sheet was hanging from. Moments later, the drapes are back up in place and hanging perfectly straight, without enough time for him to re-hang the drapes.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Paikea: In the old days, the land felt a great emptiness. It was waiting. Waiting to be filled up. Waiting for someone to love it. Waiting for a leader.

      [child birth scene]

      Paikea: And he came on the back of a whale. A man to lead a new people. Our ancestor, Paikea. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. For the boy who would be chief.

      Paikea: There was no gladness when I was born. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him.

    • Crazy credits
      Dedicated to those who have gone before
    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'Whale Rider' (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Bar One
      (International Observer)

      Loaded Sounds

      Performed by International Observer

      Courtesy of IO Audio

    User reviews374

    Review
    Top review
    A real machismo meltdown.
    A beautifully filmed and convincingly acted treat for the entire family. Adults need NOT beware since the film respects its audience and contains levels of depth suitable for all ages. Although ultimately an upbeat movie, there are some grim plot elements that may not be appropriate for very young or overly sensitive children. However, there's no actual violence or anything truly frightening or morbid.

    This is the story of a 12 year old Maori girl who knows that she is born to the destiny her grandfather believes died with her stillborn twin brother. I won't spoil the ending (which is hinted at early on) with specifics, but suffice it to say that the story's ultimate lesson is that change is sometimes as necessary a component of living traditions as repetitive ceremony. And that the Maori must ride that "whale" as bravely as their mythological ancestor rode the whale from Havaiki (a satellite island of Tahiti, NOT Hawaii) to New Zealand. Not to destroy or denigrate their culture, but to ensure its vitality and continuity in the cultural matrix of the modern world.

    A great lesson in true cultural diversity without preachy slogans or "politically correct" censorship. It should be shown in all the world's classrooms. Keisha Castle-Hughes is unforgettable as the heroine, and richly deserves the Oscar for which she has been nominated.
    helpful•56
    7
    • guanche
    • Feb 20, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 29, 2003 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • New Zealand
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Germany)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Maori
    • Also known as
      • Người Cưỡi Cá Voi
    • Filming locations
      • Whangara, Gisborne, New Zealand
    • Production companies
      • South Pacific Pictures
      • ApolloMedia Distribution
      • Pandora Filmproduktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,779,666
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $137,418
      • Jun 8, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $41,062,976
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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