Whale Rider
Composite Rating: 81.27
Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, and Rachel House
Director: Niki Caro
Writers: Niki Caro and Witi Ihimaera
Genres: Drama, Family
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief language and a momentary drug reference
Box Office: $41.06 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Whale Rider is the story of a Maori girl facing down the stereotypes of her own culture and fighting to help her people and her family achieve a better life. It tells of triumph in the face of adversity of the importance of family and staying true to a goal no matter the obstacles. It is uplifting and moving, telling a story that is original and new about a heavily marginalized culture. The performances from the actors are well-done, garnering SAG and Oscar nominations for Keisha Castle-Hughes as the young lead Paikea. The family connections in the film feel real and carry weight and connection beyond the context of the story, relating to many an audience member.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
I know a lot of people who struggle to understand accents that are not American, and the accents in this film are heavily New Zealander. Don’t let this be a dissuading factor for you though, subtitles exist for a reason, and it is certainly a rewarding film. If the only thing holding you back is worry over the accents, then that is a minimal issue.
Another potential turn-off for some audience members could be the pace of the film. It is definitely a slow-burn but a short one, clocking in just over 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is a character exploration at its heart, following very clearly in the structure of the Hero’s Journey. There is potential for boredom if the audience does not buy in, but Caro has crafted a film worth buying in to.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
The young (12 years old) Keisha Castle-Hughes’s performance anchors this film. The way the actress portrays the character’s determination and passion for her family feels real and bought in. Her voice-overs as narration feel almost ethereal, bringing the audience into the mind of the child hero and creating an atmosphere of enchantment within a story that is very much a part of the real world. Her family also is well-portrayed with complexity in relationships and authenticity in the acting. Rawiri Paratene gives a strong supporting performance as the hard-headed, traditional Koro, determined to bring his family and his people a leader for the hard times they face. Vicky Haughton plays toughened Nanny incredibly, with affection and tough love for all of her family members. Cliff Curtis’s Porourangi is the epitome of reluctant and hurting absentee father during his short screen time. Grant Roa and Rachel House serve as the uncle and aunt that help bring levity to the otherwise fairly serious life of Paikea.
Whale Rider’s story prominently features Paikea fighting to overcome her own grandfather’s (Koro) expectations for their Maori people. He has a desire to find a chief but cannot accept the possibility that the chief he seeks is not among the firstborn sons of the community but is instead the firstborn daughter of his own son. The love between grandfather and granddaughter is also flavored with a sense of resentment that Paikea survived childbirth while her brother lived. Paikea fits the bill and goes above and beyond to show herself to be everything that her grandfather is looking for. This is not to say that her actions are motivated by her grandfather, or any other family member for that matter. She is very much her own character acting based on who she is and who she would like to be, not out of a desire to please others.
The reality of the Maori living in New Zealand also features heavily in this film, shedding light on an underrepresented people group in film. The struggles, victories, rich cultural history, and overall lifestyle of the Maori are well-represented by actors, writers, and a director that understand and come from the area and culture. It is a triumph and a good way for watchers to connect with a culture that they are less familiar with.
Whale Rider is well-deserving of the praise it has received, particularly for the representation of authentic familial relationships, powerful female characters, and portrayal of the Maori people in film. Keisha Castle-Hughes delivers one of the better child acting performances that I have seen, and the story is a gripping exploration of self-determination and the power of dreams. Certainly worth the watch and fitting in its place in the Greatest Films of All Time.
