Director: Niki Caro
Year Released: 2003
Media Type: Movie
Run Time : 101 min
ISBN: 9781404943728
Genre: Drama, Family
Viewer's Annotation:
One young girl dared to confront the past, change the present and determine the future.
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 believes she is destined to be the new chief.
Plot Summary:
In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. In every generation for more than 1000 years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title.
The time is now. The Chief's eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins - a boy and a girl. But the boy and his mother die in childbirth. The surviving girl is named Paikea, nicknamed Pai.
Her father leaves her to be raised by her grandparents. Koro, her grandfather who is the Chief, refuses to acknowledge Pai as the inheritor of the tradition and claims she is of no use to him. But her grandmother, Flowers, sees more than a broken line, she sees a child in desperate need of love. And Koro learns to love the child. When Pai's father, Porourangi, now a feted international artist, returns home after twelve years, Koro hopes everything is resolved and Porourangi will to accept destiny and become his successor. Porourangi has no intention of becoming Chief. He has moved away from his people both physically and emotionally. After a bitter argument with Koro he leaves, suggesting to Pai that she come with him. She starts the journey but quickly returns, claiming her grandfather needs her.
The old Chief is convinced that the tribe's misfortunes began at Pai's birth and calls for his people to bring their firstborn boys to him for training. He is certain that through a gruelling process of teaching the ancient chants, tribal lore and warrior techniques, the future leader of their tribe will be revealed to him.
Meanwhile, deep within the ocean, a massive herd of whales is responding, drawn towards Pai and their twin destinies. When the whales become stranded on the beach, Koro is sure this signals an apocalyptic end to his tribe. Until one person prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the people...the Whale Rider.
Awards Won:
- Best Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to Charlize Theron for Monster)
Chicago Film Critics Association:
- Best Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to Charlize Theron for Monster)
- Most Promising Filmmaker (Niki Caro, lost to Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini for American Splendor)
- Most Promising Performer (Keisha Castle-Hughes, winner)
- Best Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to Queen Latifah for Bringing Down the House)
- Best Film (lost to The Fighting Temptations)
- Best Foreign Film (winner)
- Best Art Direction (lost to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
- Best Director (Niki Caro, lost to Jim Sheridan for In America)
- Best Film - Drama (lost to In America)
- Best Screenplay - Adapted (Niki Caro, lost to Brian Helgeland for Mystic River)
- Best Supporting Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to Renée Zellweger for Cold Mountain)
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association:
- Best Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes, lost to Naomi Watts for 21 Grams)
Movie's Website:
http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com/
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