Synopsis
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. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
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Cast
- Keisha Castle-HughesPaikea Apirana
- Rawiri ParateneKoro
- Vicky HaughtonNanny Flowers
- Cliff CurtisPorourangi
- Grant RoaUncle Rawiri
- Mana TaumaunuHemi
- Rachel HouseShilo
- Taungaroa EmileWillie
- Tammy DavisDog
- Mabel WharekawaMaka
Recommendations
- 100
Chicago Sun-Times
The genius of the movie is the way is sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving. - 90
Washington Post
Evokes its spirituality with deft strokes and wonderful humor. - 88
USA Today
Caro gives the fablesque story -- based on a 1,000-year-old Maori legend -- both a contemporary and timeless quality, anchored by newcomer Castle-Hughes' powerful and haunting performance. - 88
Philadelphia Inquirer
The rhythms of Whale Rider are hypnotic as the ebb tide, haunting as the song of the humpback sea mammal, bracing as the ocean spray. It's a movie that rewards the patient viewer. - 88
Chicago Tribune
One may gripe that the tale at times seems familiar, yet that familiarity is also part of the movie's power: Here's a story from halfway around the world that somehow connects with the hearts of viewers of almost any culture. - 80
Dallas Observer
Once in a while a film comes along that is as sound, smart, sweet and significant as can be, and Whale Rider is such a film. - 80
The New York Times
Wickedly absorbing. - 75
Miami Herald
There is magic here, enough to make Whale Rider worthy of the audience-choice awards it has earned at film festivals worldwide.
