Andrea recommends this flick from New Zealand. Read on to find out why.
A small country of only 4 million people, New Zealand does not produce many films but when they do the results are well worth waiting for. Released in 2002, Whale Rider was universally acclaimed, and even received Academy Award nominations for best actress, going on to win many international awards.
It is a mystical story of a young Maori girl’s struggle to realise her destiny within society, a destiny to lead her people to a better future.
Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) narrates that there was no joy on the day that she was born. Pai is named after her people’s ancestor Paikea, the one who led them across the seas to find the land that waited for them. Her mother dies shortly after naming her along with Pai’s twin brother and her grandfather, who had been waiting for the birth of a male heir, is disappointed to receive only a girl instead. He is waiting for a leader long foretold, who will help their people to regain their rightful place, and lead them out of the poverty and misery that engulfs many. He resents the name Paikea being given to a girl who can not hope to fulfil the prophecy.
Pai’s father leaves her with her grandparents, establishing a career overseas and only visiting occasionally. As she grows she struggles with the fact that as a girl she can not fulfil her grandfather’s wishes even as her heart tells her that she is perfectly capable of doing so. Pai begins to learn the old ways in secret, slowly beginning to fulfil her destiny, and it is then that she begins to hear the call of the whales… but will her grandfather realise who she really is only when it’s already too late?
Whale Rider has been beautifully filmed, and showcases both the beauty of New Zealand as well as the traditional Maori culture. The characters are down to earth and true to life, and young Keisha is the perfect choice for the central role of Paikea. Whale Rider manages to blend both realism and mysticism well with a haunting soundtrack of traditional Maori songs and the call of the whales.
Most of all it is the inspiring story of a girl who knows that she is destined for more and is not willing to simply accept the place that society deems to be hers. Even as her heart breaks over her grandfather’s
Whale Rider is not only an insight into the struggle of an ancient people to retain their culture in modern times, it is also a film that will not only make you cry but also restore your faith that there can be a better way and that change, though slow, is always possible.
Keisha Castle-Hughes received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the film.
Andrea recommends this flick from New Zealand. Read on to find out why.
Most of all it is the inspiring story of a girl who knows that she is destined for more and is not willing to simply accept the place that society deems to be hers. Even as her heart breaks over her grandfather’s 
