The book "The Whale Rider" by Witi Ihimaera is about a girl named Kahu and is in line to becoming chief in her tribe but greatly discouraged by her grandfather . A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. The comment that Germany is just about as far from New Zealand as a person can get. Whale Rider was released on DVD and VHS on 28 October 2004 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. Then the rope breaks as Koro tries to start the engine. In the absence of swift and agile mammalian predators, some species of birds had lost the ability to fly. Bridges to Reading She bears a deep love for her mate and thus is concerned about his growing desire to return to the islands of his youth. For society as a whole, prejudice limits the contribution that the victims can make. The father and grandfather argue after the slide show, and the father goes to pull down the white sheet that was hung over some drapes to act as a screen. Such is the case with Keisha Castle Hughes. This is an echo of the earlier symbol of the rope. , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Whangara, New Zealand. There, he meets Jeff and the two become fast friends. Like most other indigenous cultures, Maori tribes were no match for the diseases and gun-based military prowess of the Europeans. He is the father of Kahu, thus making Kahu the eldest child of the successor -- a fact which eventually forces Koro to question his opposition to female leadership in the group. uneven distributions of wealth. He admonishes Pai against touching the largest whale because she has "done enough" damage with her presumption. A man to lead a new people. More books than SparkNotes. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him. The village leader should be the first-born son, a direct patrilineal descendant of Paikea, the Whale Rider, he who rode on top of a whale (Tohora) from Hawaiki. Kahu herself plays a prominent role in the ceremony. Adapt the presentation to the needs of particular classes. This will presage a scene in the film. She is a young girl with a strong and determined temperament and a soft and innocent heart. This shows that he thinks Pais leadership would be dangerous to the tribe, despite the fact that she can do what he cannot. Copyright Fandango. BENEFITS OF THE MOVIE By creating an account, you agree to the He drops a rock in the sea and once it has sunk to the depths, he tells the boys they must retrieve it as a test of their endurance and strength and ability to lead. For the film, see, Storylines Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand Notable Books List, "The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera Read by Jay Lagaaia | Audiobook Review", "Reading Resolution: "The Whale Rider" by Witi Ihimaera", "The Most Translated Books From Every Country in the World", "Te Kaieke Tohor by Witi Ihimaera, n Tmoti Kretu i whakamori", "Remarkable Kiwis win the non-fiction Children's Choice award | Scoop News", "Film-making in the service of identity politics", "The God of Small Things to Shuggie Bain: the Queen's jubilee book list", "The Big Jubilee Read: Books from 1982 to 1991", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Whale_Rider&oldid=1088553471, This page was last edited on 18 May 2022, at 18:34. The Whale Rider study guide contains a biography of author Witi Ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Her koro Apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Social-Emotional Learning He travels to Sydney, Australia, where he meets several of his cousins and notes that they seem to have drifted away from Maori cultural traditions and have fully embraced the lifestyle of the big city. All of the main characters are impacted by the dynamic between tradition and modernity. Which of the evils of prejudice are shown operating in this movie? Overall, I liked Whale Rider, but I don't think I fully got it. The Whale Rider essays are academic essays for citation. The scenes with Hemi - at the performance when his dad. When Nanny awakens, Koro admits to her that this is entirely his fault, and that he has been stubborn and blind in the matter of Kahu. This highlights Paikeas decision to struggle against the fate that would have been hers had she not become Chief. Returning to Kahus tale, Rawiri narrates that he decided to see a bit of the world when Kahu was in her fourth year. The Maori were the first human beings to live in New Zealand and brought with them a highly evolved Stone Age culture. The message is clear and requires no discussion. The importance of myth and stories which shape the lives of traditional people will become clear to viewers and will offer the perspective necessary to look at their own myths and stories. For example, Koro calls Porourangis art souvenirs. The old man blames Porourangi for not producing a son and heir to the chieftainship. Koro acknowledges that Paikea will succeed him as Chief of the tribe. Factory released a 15th anniversary Blu-ray of Whale Rider on their Shout! The Chief's eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins - a boy and a girl, but the boy and his . Main character and the new 'whale rider' Born into a line of chiefs Has all the qualities of a leader Struggles against gender stereotypes and Koro Koro Chief Pai's grandfather; loves Pai but clashes with her He raises Pai after her mother dies during childbirth and her father (Porourangi) leaves to go overseas Nanny Flowers During the course of his stay, Rawiri has to face racist behavior from Jeffs social circle, especially his mother. 3. Two additional interesting assignments are: A. [2][3] In 2002 it was adapted into a film, Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro.[4]. If we'd gone somewhere else and tried to manufacture the surroundings and the ambience, then I think it would have been noticeable in the picture. Bless Me Ultima is a mystical realism novel in which 6 year old protagonist, Antonio Marez, begins the journey of discovering himself on the path of adolescence. It is based on the novel by Witi Ihimaera. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. However, Koro was late, and as he was walking to the school, he notices that numerous southern right whales are beached near Pai's home. He needs to find individuals who will be able to carry the burden of leadership and navigate the Maori people through the chaotic waters of modernity. It was waiting. Best Actress nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes stars in this moving coming-of-age story, set in a modern-day Maori village. Lesson plans based on movies & film clips! This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to be the next chief dies at birth. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. A present day New Zealand community of Maori tribe people is waiting for the sign of a new chief to be born and lead the village and it's community to greatness. Additional questions are set out below. Maori culture was male-dominated, with women generally serving in subordinate roles. Had Pai not been able to save the whales, she would not have been able to be Chief and pursue the life she wanted. A poetic look into a different culture that really isn't too different, simply remembering that it was at one time and wanting to hold that memory. After each presentation, engage in a discussion of the information presented and how it relates to the concepts that can be found in Whale Rider. The students will begin to see the sophistication of the film once they thoroughly investigate any of the topics suggested for research. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Pai is originally born a twin, but her twin brother and her mother died during childbirth. He needs to get far away to fully develop as an individual and as an artist. Whale Rider Quotes. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. He fails to be a strong presence in the life of his child. He has opened his mind and abandoned his rigid adherence to the old rules. Her grandmother, Nanny, tells Pai that her second son, Pai's uncle, had won a taiaha tournament in his youth while he was still slim and so Pai secretly learns from him. Porourangi, the girls father, is his eldest grandson so he is the successor for that generation. The traditional Maori greeting is to press noses. Drama Family A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Cebeci, Ali. Ultimately, all the dedicated efforts of Rawiri, his friends, Nanny, and all the other locals fail and all of the whales perish on the beach. Maori children were taught about their ancestors by memorizing the names of the person represented by each notch. She is attuned to the traditional Mori way of life, and may have inherited the ability to speak to whales. hierarchy exists. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. The film ends with Pai's father, grandparents, and uncle coming together to celebrate her status as the new leader, as the finished waka is hauled into the sea for its maiden voyage. In the novel . Term. However, no matter how many leadership qualities Rawiri may possess, he can never be chief because he is a second-born son. Astraightforward man who seems to have acquired his wealth through hard work and determination. However his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), survives. Rawiri's cousin living in Papua New Guinea. 10. In 1840, British rule over the Maori was formalized in the Treaty of Waitangi, which granted British citizenship and land rights to the indigenous people of New Zealand, although most of the country was confiscated for European settlers. Read the Study Guide for The Whale Rider, Tradition as a Tool for Oppressing Women in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider, The Influence of Beliefs on Individual Life in Witi Ihimaeras The Whale Rider., View Wikipedia Entries for The Whale Rider. Paikea: There was no gladness when I was born. He pulls it down, along with the rod and orange drapes that the sheet was hanging from. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The old whale remembers the days when man and animal were united and in communication, but those are long past. Click here for a still picture of two women calling a karanga. The narrator of this time period is Rawiri, her uncle. Kahu is the chief protagonist of the story. For the boy who would be chief." Pai: "My name is Paikea Apirana and I come from a long line of chiefs, stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider" Pai: "There was no gladness when I was born. One traditional function of Maori women was the karanga, an exchange of calls that forms part of the Maori welcoming ceremony. Describe the attributes of this character, how they relate to the themes of the film, and how Uncle Rawiri is a foil for his niece. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. The film contains music by Lisa Gerrard, released on the album Whalerider on 7 July 2003. The is shown by the last scene in which Pais grandfather, now fully accepting the idea that she will be Chief, smiles lovingly at his granddaughter. Nanny does not think Koro is ready to accept this and does not tell him. Amelia Earhart. Using this knowledge, she defeats Hemi, a boy trained by Koro himself. As for Kahu, she has returned to stay with her father longer-term. Paikeas uncle, Rawiri, is a nurturing man and a leader in the community just by the force of his personality. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Whale Rider. She demonstrates racist tendencies when Rawiri comes to help them maintain their plantation. A few years pass in this way. 5. The Maori found them to be easy prey and quickly killed them off. Pai learns the lessons on her own and knows that she is capable of being the Chief. Social-Emotional Learning Although the young New Zealand girl dreams of . At that time, the fauna of New Zealand was dominated by insects and birds. The eldest grandson of Koro and the elder brother of Rawiri, Porourangi is the chosen successor for his generation. And soon everyone will be strong, not just the ones that have been chosen. Whale Rider. Pai is interested in the lessons, but is discouraged and scolded by Koro for doing so. Another symbolic action in the scene occurs when Pai ties the rope and uses it to make the engine start. There is no attempt to concretely examine, from a critical perspective, the social system and class oppression that determine the daily realities of ordinary Maori. So, it is the typical story of a young outsider making a moving film and then vanishing. He said of Castle-Hughes: "This is a movie star. Our ancestor, Paikea. In recent years, tattooing has become common for both men and women. At this point, even Koro understands that a leader may emerge, not from tradition, but in the form of a young girl who has the character, skill and desire to be chief. She never lets her anger get the best of her. The Ta moko was predominately for males and among traditional Maori it was rare that a woman would have tattoos. In addition to websites which linked in the Guide and selected film reviews listed on the Movie Review Query Engine, the following resources were consulted in the preparation of this Learning Guide: This Learning Guide was written by Mary RedClay and James Frieden. The women let the men think that the men are the bosses. What is revealed about Pai and her uncle in this episode? Suduiko, Aaron ed. Paikea Apiranas grandfather is the Chief of a small Maori tribe in modern-day New Zealand. Finally, the Whale Rider script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Niki Caro movie with Keisha Castle-Hughes. Germany is very far away from the life of the tribe, in terms of both distance and culture. Kahu finds Current time: coastal Maori village in New Zealand. A rope is seen in the episode in which the villagers try to help the beached whales return to the sea. The Whale Rider Together with Yavaraj Athur Raghuvir I watched the movie called The Whale Rider which deals with the issue of cultural restrains both as an individual and as a society. Eventually this racism, combined with Rawiris desire to see home again impel him to leave Papua New Guinea and head back to Whangara, New Zealand. While some humans take advantage of these whales to harvest their meat and organs, most of the locals of Whangara attempt to organize a rescue attempt and deliver the whales back to sea. The whale leads the entire pod back into the sea; Pai submerges completely underwater before being thrown off the whale's back by the tide, and the spectators fear she has drowned.