writing your own paper, but remember to All People have the same emotions: they upset and cry, they feel happy and laugh. 1672. She stands up to her grandfather in painful scenes, she finds dignity, and yet the next second she's running around the village like the kid she is. Her father, Porourangi, and Koro convinced Nanny Flowers that this was a good idea. It won the audience awards as the most popular film at both the Toronto and Sundance film festivals, played to standing ovations, left audiences in tears. On the other hand, it is a drama about relationship of a young girl and her grandfather. I recite these facts right at the top of this review because I fear you might make a hasty judgment that you don't want to see a movie about a 12-year-old Maori girl who dreams of becoming the chief of her people. Koros eyes, mirrored in these events, portray a great sadness to the films audience. A Maori family, despite their beliefs or rituals, can be just like an American family, or any other one. Ruined by Lynn Nottage | Play, Characters, and Analysis, Analyzing & Interpreting Literature for Teachers: Professional Development, Teaching Young Adult Books & High School Literature, CAHSEE English Exam: Test Prep & Study Guide, MTLE Communication Arts/Literature: Practice & Study Guide, Literary Analysis: Lesson Plans & Activities, Famous Authors Lesson Plans & Teaching Resources, OAE School Library Media Specialist (041) Prep, Statistics for Teachers: Professional Development, Beginning Spanish for Teachers: Professional Development, Gerontology for Teachers: Professional Development, Sociology for Teachers: Professional Development, Physical Science for Teachers: Professional Development, Natural Sciences for Teachers: Professional Development, World Religions for Teachers: Professional Development, Create an account to start this course today. Pai wanted to show Koro how strong she was so he could love her. The Film 'Whale Rider' uses cinematic techniques such as camera angles as an element to emphasise emotion and reactions to circumstances and conflict. The conflict between him and Pai is caused by Koros refusal to acknowledge Pai as the inheritor of the tradition, Koro is blinded by prejudice, and nobody can convince him that Pai is the natural heir. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. The theme ofWhale Rideris female empowerment is not unique, but the context in which it is presented is very interesting and unusual. The girl, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) survives. Much to his dismay, none of the boys retrieve the pendant and Koro returns to shore, despondent. Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, and Whangaras citizens do their best to carry on their traditions in the modern day. For generations, this tribe was always told that a man is to be the leader. Also, the largest whale traditionally belongs to the legendary Paikea. The Whale Rider by Witt Alhambra has many important themes that are represented by several characters in the text such as Koru Farina, who struggles to put aside traditional values and struggles to input moored values. Unbeknown to Koro, Rawiri later takes Pai out in the boat, who not only finds the necklace, but also manages to catch a lobster as a present for her grandfather. Killer whales population is decreasing every year, mostly due to them being held in captivity. " Do you think that the whale is as old . Koro, Pai's grandfather and leader of the Maori tribe, is devastated that their future leader has died. The film Whale Rider tells the fictional story of Pai, a twelve-year-old girl living with her grandparents in the small community of Whangara on the coast of New Zealand. History of Sex in Cinema Filmsite org. While he does later form an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also resents her and blames her for many of the troubles facing the tribe. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! Another example of how the culture is unhealthy is when Pai goes to her uncle Rawiris house to ask if he can teach her taiaha, the uncle is just lying down being lazy with his wife smoking. Indeed, as Sison suggests, the cultural milieu of Whale Rider is characterised by the ongoing Maori quest for soul and identity in the postcolonial aftermath (Sison 2012: 122), and it is these themes, as well as female empowerment, which underpin the narrative. By Hemis father leaving so soon Hemi feels upset because he really wanted to show his father what he has learned about his culture. us: [emailprotected]. Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task. I highly recommend you use this site! Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; Whale Rider Year: 2002 Director: Niki Caro Rating: PG-13 Communication Concepts: Self-Concept Communication Climate (Disconfirmation) Assertiveness Whale Rider takes place in present day New Zealand, where a 12-year-old girl named Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is growing up in an all-Maori community. requirements? what's in your head right now? The boy and the mother die. 2. Koro explains to her about her ancestors and he uses a rope to demonstrate how the strings from the rope represent her ancestors. Both text are similar as they discuss issues of poverty within the indigenous communities along with the longing to discover themselves through discovering their past., The film Whale Rider took me on a whale of an emotional ride. The summary of The Whale Rider is about a young girl, named Pai, who wants to be chief. some symbols in the whale rider are the whale, the whale rider, the waka, and the taiha. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. Pathetic Fallacy in Literature Overview & Examples | What is the Pathetic Fallacy? James K A Smith, Whos Afraid of Postmodernism? Pai, of course, is banned from these classes, but she eavesdrops and enlists a wayward uncle to reveal some of the secrets of the males. Rawiri takes up the challenge with fervour and not only trains Paikea to be the best in the tribe but also recovers his own sense of identity and self worth. (Smith 2006: 113). Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. In the beginning, the Manchu people were into agriculture. The story then leaps forward 11 years, by which time Koro has developed a strong, (albeit slightly belligerent) affection for his granddaughter, who he only ever calls Pai, denying the true power and meaning of her full name. The story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her . While Kahu was visiting the family when she was two years old, she saw whales at the beach on the way back from a trip to the movies with her uncle Rawiri. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Pai states, My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. The other text that I have studied Bran Nue Dae is also a good example of this. But Pai has several surprises for her tradition-bound grandfather that will open his eyes and the rest of the tribe to her true destiny. When Kahu finds out, she is devastated. [Country: New Zealand, Germany. The film ends with the village, including Pais father, uncle, and grandparents, celebrating her status as leader, as the finished waka is hauled into the sea for its maiden voyage. As well as this journeys can be a positive and negative experience. Analysis of the Whale Rider The film's plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana ("Pai") [In the book, her name is Kahu, short for Kahutia Te Rangi], a 12-year-old girl who is the only living child in the line of the tribe's chiefly succession following the death of her twin brother and mother when she was born. It's not just an uplifting ending, but a transcendent one, inspired and inspiring, and we realize how special this movie really is. All rights reserved. They grew crops such as soybeans, apples, sorghum, and millet. The inner journey is one which involves the hurdling of psychological barriers, as well as cultural and social obstacles, rather than just a physical trek. Whale rider scene analysis Introduction Whale Rider follows a little girl named Paikea (whose mother and twin brother died at birth and her father is in Germany) as she tries to find acceptance from her grandfather (Koro), who blames her for "all" their issues and is chastised multiple times by Koro. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. The world premire was on September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. In the film, Whale Rider, through mythical creation powers, the hero endeavors to save her dying culture. Meet Kahu, a young Maori girl, and follow her journey as she contradicts the roles females are expected to play in her culture and develops a relationship with whales. So the focus of the eye humanizes the whale and connects the young girl to the animal. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. This film combines elements of history, traditions, depicting them from the point of view of a child, that sees the world not in black and white terms. The whales are safe again once man respects nature and the ocean again. Pai is played by Keisha Castle-Hughes, a newcomer of whom it can only be said: This is a movie star. Once deep within the ocean, a herd of whales was responding, and when the whales began stranding on the beach, this seemed to be a signal of an apocalyptic end to his tribe. Pequea Makita. Niki Caro's Whale Rider - An analysis in relation to journeys. Consequently, people must boycott companies like SeaWorld so that captive orcas can be set free into sanctuaries. He doesnt see that Pai is the leader that the people of Maori have been waiting for. Though the film has a strong female character, there are still male dominant elements throughout it. 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. The film gained much respect from critics, it went on in film festivals such as Sundance and Tribecca, and gained international recognition. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. This is not a simplistic fable but the story of real people living in modern times. He rode the whale and founded the Maori people, and from that day the tradition exists: an eldest son is the Chief of the tribe and the leader. From the beginning, Paikea, or Pai, is a young girl in a mans world. However she finds that she cannot bear to leave the sea as the whale seems to be calling her back, tells her father to turn the car back and returns home. A letter she wrote to Rawiri while he was in Papua New Guinea read, "'I am seven. She completes her expected tasks of singing during concerts, escorting the boys into the marae, and leading the other girls in their performance. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Irving develops a fable based on truth by setting Rip's story in a village close to the Catskill Mountains and by placing the occasions before and after the American Revolutionary War. While the movie Whale Rider is set in New Zealand and reflects Mori traditions and culture, it's relatable to kids everywhere. When I finished the story I believe that the theme of The Whale Rider was to overcome the odds to achieve the greatness. 'The Whale Rider' tells the story of a girl destined to be a leader of her people. Moreover, the plot of Whale Rider follows a single thread and is linear while in the novel, there are multiple flashbacks, especially to Maori myths. Personality determined, wise, and sensitive. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . There's an amusing sequence where they practice looking ferocious to scare their enemies. This novel unfolds the history of the Maori Tribe that by tradition the new chief would be the first born son directly descended from their ancient ancestor Paikea. WHAT ISM DID U SEE ILLUSTRATED SEXISM: stereotypical gender roles Women: makes food: Koro utters Women setup dinner are not to smoke: a child says: Women should not smoke has to sit in the back: Koro tells Pai to move from the front row to the back row when they have a meeting in Marae Men: are fighters: boys are traditionally taught to use the taiaha fix things: Koro is not pleased when Pai can fix the motor for the boat boys do not cry: Pai finds Hemi crying and he gets upset and tells her to go away . Koro tells Kahu that he loves her regardless of whether she is a girl or a boy, and he names her the new leader, called Paikea, just like the founder of their tribe. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. They are a replication of the broadly understood human culture (Falassi, 1987). This shows how Koro does not want anything to do with Pai. 'I heard helicopters whirling around and the ships in the river using all their sirens - a whale had So it may be considered as the film about interpersonal relations. Her father refuses leadership, and returns to Germany, but Paikea is interested, even though she is a female and it goes against all tradition. The old culture is continuously struggling to keep alive, to keep its people, its unigue traditions and customs, in a quickly changing world, that leaves the past behind. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. $15.00. 545 Words3 Pages. "Our Koro was like an old whale stranded in an alien present, but that was how it was supposed to be, because he also had his role in the pattern of things, in the tides of the future". Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you He is certain that through a process of teaching the ancient chants, tribal lore and warrior techniques, the future leader of their tribe will be revealed to him. As such, the film does not present a simple rejection of modernity, rather it is the recovery of tradition in modernity, and sometimes against identity, that makes possible the renewal of identity of Paikeas people (Smith 2006: 116). First of all, because Paikea is a woman, she is not fit to be the Maori leader. When Koro finds out he chastises Paikea, warning her that by tampering with sacred traditions she has shamed her community. The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! By continuing well characters are most like you. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. Pai herself is interested in the leadership, learning traditional songs and dances, but is given little encouragement by her grandfather. The notion of journey is apparent is Beneath Clouds by Ivan Sen, as well as in related texts Stand By Me by Rob Reiner and Bushwalking by Phillip Rush. Paikea trains in secret, eavesdropping on Koros classes, determined to learn all she can of her ancestral customs. No plagiarism guarantee. Director and Screenwriter: Niki Caro. Paikea: My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. And if that were not bad enough, Paikea ("Pai") lost her father as well. The story takes place in New Zealand where the Maori people of a small village claim descent from the Whale Rider, Paikea. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny. It's a story about a young Maori girl, Paikea Apirana that's born into the chief line along with a twin brother. Create your account, 4 chapters | One night Paikea delivers a speech to the rest of the tribe that traces the history of her people and the significance of the Paikea legend, which she tearfully dedicates to her grandfather. The film under analysis is called Whale Rider and focuses on the story of the Maori girl Pai who is interested in becoming the leader of her tribe. For example, Porourangi uses international travel to escape the pain of losing his loved ones, as well as the responsibility to produce a male son that Koro believes will lead his people out of the darkness. Koros relationship with Pai erodes further when none of the boys succeed at the traditional task of recovering the rei puta (whale tooth) that he threw into the ocean this mission would prove one of them worthy of becoming leader. The whale leads the entire pod back into the sea; Paikea nearly drowns in the process. All People have the same emotions: they upset and cry, they feel happy and laugh. Many centuries ago a legendary ancestor named Paikea brought there the Maori people, who still lives there. The Whale Rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. In the film Whale Rider depicts a culture in transition. Furthermore, such a portrayal of a Maori tribe in their contemporary setting highlights post-colonial ambivalence in New Zealand, indicating that Maoris are not fully opposed to the hybridisation that has occurred during the colonial process. hey you why are you so cruel? The Routledge Encyclopedia of Films, Edited by Sarah Barrow, Sabine Haenni and John White, first published in 2015.
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