Directed by: Niki Caro, 2002
Starring:
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FILM SYNOPSIS
In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. In every generation for more than one thousand 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 called Pai. Grief-stricken, Porourangi leaves Pai 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, Nanny Flowers, sees more than a broken line, she sees a child in desperate need of love. Koro learns to love Pai and when Porourangi, now a celebrated international artist, returns home after twelve years, Koro hopes everything will be resolved and that Porourangi will accept destiny and become his successor. However, Porourangi has no intention of becoming Chief as he has moved away from his people, both physically and emotionally. After a bitter argument with Koro, Porourangi decides to leave suggesting to Pai that she go with him. She begins the journey but quickly returns, claiming her grandfather Koro needs her. Koro is blinded by prejudice and even Nanny Flowers cannot convince him that Pai is the natural heir. The old Chief is convinced that the tribe’s misfortunes began at Pai’s birth and calls for his people to bring their twelve-year-old boys to him for training. He is certain that through a grueling 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 school of whales is responding to Pai’s calls. 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. |