Whale Rider (2002)

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

Director:

Niki Caro

Writers:

Niki Caro, Witi Ihimaera (book)

Stars:

Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 33 wins & 34 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keisha Castle-Hughes	...	Paikea
Rawiri Paratene	...	Koro
Vicky Haughton	...	Nanny Flowers
Cliff Curtis	...	Porourangi
Grant Roa	...	Uncle Rawiri
Mana Taumaunu	...	Hemi
Rachel House	...	Shilo
Taungaroa Emile	...	Willie
Tammy Davis	...	Dog
Mabel Wharekawa	...	Maka (as Mabel Wharekawa-Burt)
Rawinia Clarke	...	Miro
Tahei Simpson	...	Miss Parata
Roi Taimana	...	Hemi's Dad (as Roimata Taimana)
Elizabeth Skeen	...	Rehua
Tyronne White	...	Jake (as Tyrone White)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

maori | f rated | girl | tradition | new zealand | 

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Taglines:

One young girl dared to confront the past, change the present and determine the future

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief language and a momentary drug reference

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Germany]

Country:

New Zealand Germany

Language:

English Maori

Release Date:

29 August 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jinete de ballenas

Filming Locations:

Henderson Valley Studios, Hickory Avenue, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand

Box Office

Budget:

NZD 6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$137,418, 8 June 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$20,779,666

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,662,447

Company Credits

Production Co:

South Pacific Pictures, ApolloMedia Distribution, Pandora Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At her audition, Keisha Castle-Hughes' told casting directors that she could swim. When it came time to film the swimming scenes, she admitted she couldn't swim. Waio Parata-Haua, Kiesha's stunt double, did most of her swimming scenes.

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Goofs

When the girl has been crying and her father is comforting her on the boat, he wipes the tears from her face. In some shots, you can see where he wiped the tear. In other shots, a tear that has tricked down to her chin. In some other shots, she has a tear that hasn't traveled so far.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

Dedicated to those who have gone before

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Strangest Prehistoric Creatures (2016)

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Soundtracks

Biking Home
Performed by, Vocal by Rawiri Paratene
Music Composed By, Arranged By Lisa Gerrard
Copyright owned by 4AD LTD Under License from South Pacific Pictures LTD.
© (P) 2003 4AD LTD

User Reviews

What a Find!

Whale Rider is a story of the quest for the new leader of an indigenous Maori tribe living on an island off the coast of New Zealand. Often this type of film ends up making a caricature of the people, accentuating their quaint customs and idiosyncratic behaviors and causing us to smile condescendingly at their ignorance and stunted development. Whale Rider does nothing of the kind. Director Niki Caro treats her subject matter with profound respect, genuine curiosity and effortless grace, while refusing to ignore the signs of cultural disintegration. It is as if we are invited into the Whangara community, and are free to observe comfortably, without fear or embellishment. The 11-year-old first-time actor Keisha Castle-Hughes gives the most astonishing performance by a child that I have ever witnessed, and lifts the movie from being just plain good to a profoundly moving experience. Whale Rider is a tale of the evolution of a culture, wrapped in humor and hope. It is a story of an indomitable spirit. It is a movie about love and change, about the grim realities of life and the marvelous miracles of faith. If you have a chance to see this film, do not miss it!