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Are you looking for a change of pace from mega-budget, megastar, mega-blockbuster Hollywood movies that are loud, frenzied, and exciting; but also heartless, violent, and profane? Do you like coming-of-age movies like "Billy Elliot", and "Bend it Like Beckham"? If so, then go see a wonderful little jewel from New Zealand called "Whale Rider".
The movie combines a modern coming-of-age story with Maori mythology (Maori are the natives of New Zealand). The young heroine Pai comes from a Maori family whose every first-born son has been chief of this Maori village for a 1000 years. There is no heir to current chief, her grandfather Koro, because her father moved away when his wife and first-born son died in childbirth (Pai was the surviving twin). Koro believed that this boy was the "chosen one", the one to lead his people out of the darkness of the modern world. Pai grows up with a desire to follow in her grandfather's footsteps, but her grandfather has no use for a girl as a successor. Pai trains in secret, and when her village is tested by a great event of nature (involving whales, which are sacred to these people), it is her courage and spiritual gifts that save her people's future.
The movie works so well for many reasons: a fine script, sure direction, and beautiful photography. When Pai narrates the story of her people, and the screen is filled with underwater scenes of whales; the movie is dreamlike. The great final whale scene (filmed with animatronic whales) will have you on the edge of your seat wondering if little Pai will survive. The film makers shrewdly filmed the movie in the village of Whangara, where the novel "Whale Rider" is set, and its author is from. Here the scenery of New Zealand provides a spectacular backdrop, and the local people can be used as background cast and extras. Also a fine group of New Zealand actors were cast as Pai's family and they bring these strong-willed, often prickly characters to life.
But the movie belongs to Pai, and it was wise that the film makers went searching for a non-actor. They had to look at over 10,000 New Zealand school children before they found Keisha Castle-Hughes in a schoolroom in Auckland. She so completely inhabits this character, that from the first time you meet her, you lose your heart to this brave little girl, who wants for love from her absent father and hard-hearted grandfather, and who takes on a lonely and difficult path. This film wears its heart proudly on its sleeve; without being smug, overbearing, or unbelievable. It is also rare for a film to be so unabashedly spiritual.
There is a wonderful web site for the movie, with the trailer, posters, extensive info on the film production, cast, and location as well as an education guide for teachers:
http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com/
The Washington Post's film critic Desson Howe did a nice story on the lead actors in the movie at this URL:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Jun12.html
For more details on the making of the movie (including animatronic whales), check out this article:
http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/...0777164671.htm
The movie combines a modern coming-of-age story with Maori mythology (Maori are the natives of New Zealand). The young heroine Pai comes from a Maori family whose every first-born son has been chief of this Maori village for a 1000 years. There is no heir to current chief, her grandfather Koro, because her father moved away when his wife and first-born son died in childbirth (Pai was the surviving twin). Koro believed that this boy was the "chosen one", the one to lead his people out of the darkness of the modern world. Pai grows up with a desire to follow in her grandfather's footsteps, but her grandfather has no use for a girl as a successor. Pai trains in secret, and when her village is tested by a great event of nature (involving whales, which are sacred to these people), it is her courage and spiritual gifts that save her people's future.
The movie works so well for many reasons: a fine script, sure direction, and beautiful photography. When Pai narrates the story of her people, and the screen is filled with underwater scenes of whales; the movie is dreamlike. The great final whale scene (filmed with animatronic whales) will have you on the edge of your seat wondering if little Pai will survive. The film makers shrewdly filmed the movie in the village of Whangara, where the novel "Whale Rider" is set, and its author is from. Here the scenery of New Zealand provides a spectacular backdrop, and the local people can be used as background cast and extras. Also a fine group of New Zealand actors were cast as Pai's family and they bring these strong-willed, often prickly characters to life.
But the movie belongs to Pai, and it was wise that the film makers went searching for a non-actor. They had to look at over 10,000 New Zealand school children before they found Keisha Castle-Hughes in a schoolroom in Auckland. She so completely inhabits this character, that from the first time you meet her, you lose your heart to this brave little girl, who wants for love from her absent father and hard-hearted grandfather, and who takes on a lonely and difficult path. This film wears its heart proudly on its sleeve; without being smug, overbearing, or unbelievable. It is also rare for a film to be so unabashedly spiritual.
There is a wonderful web site for the movie, with the trailer, posters, extensive info on the film production, cast, and location as well as an education guide for teachers:
http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com/
The Washington Post's film critic Desson Howe did a nice story on the lead actors in the movie at this URL:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Jun12.html
For more details on the making of the movie (including animatronic whales), check out this article:
http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/...0777164671.htm
Last edited by Charles Duncan; 06-17-03 at 08:38 PM.
