Whale Rider (2002)
Coming Out at 30 January 2003 in theaters.
Drama, Family
Whale Rider is family drama film written and directed by Niki Caro. Based on the novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Māori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. Her grandfather Koro Apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only.
The film was a coproduction between New Zealand and Germany. It was shot on location in Whangara, the setting of the novel. The world premiere was on 9 September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. At age 13, Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actress before she was surpassed by Quvenzhané Wallis, at age 9, for Beasts of the Southern Wild less than a decade later. The film earned $41.4 million on a NZ$9,235,000 budget. In 2005, the film was named on the BFI list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14.
The film’s plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana (“Pai”). The village leader should be the first-born son, a direct patrilineal descendant of Paikea, the Whale Rider, he who rode on top of a whale (Tohora) from Hawaiki. Pai is originally born a twin, but her twin brother and her mother died during childbirth. Pai is female and so technically cannot inherit the leadership. While her grandfather, Koro, later forms an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also condemns her and blames her for conflicts happening within the tribe.
Director: Niki Caro
Writers: Niki Caro, Witi Ihimaera (book)
Stars: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu, Rachel House
Cast:
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 |
Rawinia Clarke | … | Miro |
Tahei Simpson | … | Miss Parata |
Roi Taimana | … | Hemi’s Dad |
Elizabeth Skeen | … | Rehua |
Tyronne White | … | Jake |
Taupua Whakataka-Brightwell | … | Ropata |
Tenia McClutchie-Mita | … | Wiremu |
Peter Patuwai | … | Bubba |
Rutene Spooner | … | Parekura |
Riccardo Davis | … | Maui |
Apiata Whangaparita-Apanui | … | Henare |
John Sumner | … | Obstetrician |
Sam Woods | … | Young Rawiri |
Pura Tangira | … | Ace |
Jane O’Kane | … | Anne |
Aumuri Parata-Haua | … | Baby Paikea |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia