Whale Rider is a moving tale of a young Maori girl trying to finding her place in the world. Set in rural New Zealand, the movie begins when a young mother dies giving birth to a set of highly anticipated, fraternal twins, the son, who is foreseen to be Paikea; the next chief, dies soon after birth along with, the mother. The only survivor is the little girl, named Paikea (Keisha Castle-Hughes). Although this was Hughes first role in a major screenplay, she added a lot of dramatic flare to the film as a whole and was nominated for 16 awards...Just for this screen play alone, she won 6, including a Critics Choice Award for Best Young Actress. Throughout the film Hughes isn’t always a vocal character, but her presence can’t be ignored, which is great in contrast to Koro (Rawari Paratene), grandfather’s presence in this film. The movie follows Paikea life as she tries to fulfill her destiny with the push back of her grandfather, Koro (Rawiri Paratene). Legend goes that the firstborn, always male is the direct descendants of Paikea. Although no one seems to believe she’s worthy of the status, she follows her heart, while capturing the hearts of an adoring audience. While the movie is touching, there is so much conflict in the air within the family, it can leave the viewer feeling a bit off as well. While the problems faced in this piece, aren’t things we face everyday living in the United States.
The movie follows Paikea life as she tries to fulfill her destiny with the push back of her grandfather, Koro (Rawiri Paratene). Legend goes that the firstborn, always male is the direct descendants of Paikea. Although no one seems to believe she’s worthy of the status, she follows her heart, while capturing the hearts of an adoring audience. While the movie is touching, there is so much conflict in the air within the family, it can leave the viewer feeling a bit off as well. While the problems faced in this piece, aren’t things we face everyday living in the United States. However, there’s something about the film that makes it very relatable, you can start to feel for Paikea and the rest of the family members. You see the hurt and pain behind everyone’s actions. As viewer, you are able to accept them so much more consciously. The film really just pulls you in; you start to feel involved and really begin to see them as real people. Throughout the movie, Paikea grows on you. She doesn’t want anything more but to fulfill her destiny and impress her grandfather. She wants to show him that her name is true to her and she is ready for what is to come. There is a connection between the viewer and Paikea, you want to leap in that television and help her reach her destiny.
The movie addresses the social commentary of boy vs. girl. There is a stigma all over the world that a man's job is solely a man's job and there is no way a woman can ever take over in turn. Women are viewed to be weaker, fragile, and more delicate than men. In this village, it was believed that the first born son is a descendant of Paikea, but since the first born son was actually the first born daughter - there was a problem. The grandfather thought there was a curse put on to the tribe and havoc was near in sight. He didn't think that his granddaughter was the descendant or that she could ever try to be. However, Paikea knows. She knows what her destiny is and she is ready to do whatever it takes to fulfill it. It is all about gender roles. Could a girl really take place as the chief and do it well? Is it realistic to think a girl could take on such a big role and do it better than a boy could? These are things that have been pressed into people’s minds and cultures for centuries. One scene in the film, Koro (Paikea’s grandfather) was trying to fix the motor of the speedboat with a rope, but he failed and the roped ripped. Paikea tries to do it herself with the rope when her father goes to get a new rope and she is successful in getting the motor to start. Paikea calls for her grandfather, he hits her hands and yells at her to never do that again because it is dangerous. Even though, she successfully fixed the boat that was not her job and she was reprimanded for it. Another scene in where Paikea was reprimanded for doing something right even though she was of the opposite gender was when the boys were learning the in-and-outs of being a chief. Paikea was watching the group of boys through the window practicing with fighting sticks. One of the boys came out and started to use the fighting sticks with her and she beat him. She was shown as the stronger one between the two. Her grandfather came out and yelled at her - for living up to her destiny. She was showing that she would be the chief on the people, but it was wrong because she wasn’t the destined first-born son. Within this film, we come to see a whole communities mind set changed and their horizons broadened as an unlikely success story comes to life.
Another way this film shows social commentary is the way Hughes is pushed to the side from the start. The dismissing of female children is nothing new, it’s actually a very prevalent practice done throughout Asia. {Gendercide, the abandonment and/or killing/ dismissing of female children.} Now we know, that in this film the situation isn’t taken that far, but the two ideas of dismissing and abandonment come from the same idea. We are not a superior gender in this world, there is no country that a female is the more prevalent member in society, and in this aspect we are made to seem and feel inferior. Thus leading to less respect, and less opportunity. Lots of cultures see females solely as homemakers, present to take care of the members of the household and all their problems. We’re made to feel as though we don’t deserve or qualify for the same rankings and jobs as a male would, even if placed in our same situation. It can make you feel victimized, small, and incredibly unimportant. We love this film because while it shows these issues, it also gives off a certain air to any young female viewers, saying we can overcome this. We are important, and one or a few people not believing in out value doesn’t mean we need to let go of the hope or confidence we have in our own self value.
Bringing it all to a close, Whale Rider was a beautiful piece, that touched on so many different subjects and issues, without exploiting them. A foreign film, that exposed more social commentary than most American films on a regular basis. Everyone should see this movie. It sheds a lot of light not only on the issues and qualities that others face in their lifetimes, but also on the fact that the foreign film genre is not one to push off to the side. Plenty of quality work comes from other countries every year, and if you’re not careful you might miss out on something as touching as this.
Another way this film shows social commentary is the way Hughes is pushed to the side from the start. The dismissing of female children is nothing new, it’s actually a very prevalent practice done throughout Asia. {Gendercide, the abandonment and/or killing/ dismissing of female children.} Now we know, that in this film the situation isn’t taken that far, but the two ideas of dismissing and abandonment come from the same idea. We are not a superior gender in this world, there is no country that a female is the more prevalent member in society, and in this aspect we are made to seem and feel inferior. Thus leading to less respect, and less opportunity. Lots of cultures see females solely as homemakers, present to take care of the members of the household and all their problems. We’re made to feel as though we don’t deserve or qualify for the same rankings and jobs as a male would, even if placed in our same situation. It can make you feel victimized, small, and incredibly unimportant. We love this film because while it shows these issues, it also gives off a certain air to any young female viewers, saying we can overcome this. We are important, and one or a few people not believing in out value doesn’t mean we need to let go of the hope or confidence we have in our own self value.
Bringing it all to a close, Whale Rider was a beautiful piece, that touched on so many different subjects and issues, without exploiting them. A foreign film, that exposed more social commentary than most American films on a regular basis. Everyone should see this movie. It sheds a lot of light not only on the issues and qualities that others face in their lifetimes, but also on the fact that the foreign film genre is not one to push off to the side. Plenty of quality work comes from other countries every year, and if you’re not careful you might miss out on something as touching as this.
By: Dakota Foster & Sidney Williamson