Whale Rider - Film Review

This film tells us the story of a young Maori girl named Paikea Apirana, a surviving twin. Her twin brother died at birth as well as her mother. Her grandfather was very disappointed because he was expecting a primogenitor to lead his people (His son, Paikea’s father had given up leadership for a career as an artist in Germany), to be a chief and a prophet. The leader was supposed to be a boy and a direct descendant of Paikea the first of its people who rode a whale from Hawaiki, the birthplace of their ancestors. But Paikea Apirana was a girl and in her grandfather’s eyes it was impossible that she would ever become a leader. He starts looking for a new leader amongst the village’s boys.

The relationship between Paikea and her “Koro” (grandfather) is one of love and rejection, and the story shows this man divided between the love of her granddaughter and tradition. Paikea, against her grandfather’s wish learns about her ancestor’s traditions, and she does this even better than the boys. She doesn’t want to accept the fact that she could never be a leader because she is a girl, and somehow she feels that it is her destiny, so during the course of the story, and till the end, she is going to prove that to everyone including her grandfather.

Niki Caro directed this film (adapted from the 1987 book of Maori writer Witi Ihimaera) in a touching, simple and intelligent way. It is beautifully filmed and it has moments of intense drama (without being over sentimental), as well as humour and joy.
The story sets place in one of the amazing coastal regions of New Zealand in a local Maori village, Whangara. The “scenario” is astonishing! The “extras” are the village’s people it selves, the Maori people, and maybe that is why the story breaths authenticity.
This film, a mix of fantasy and reality does not disappoint. In spite of being inspired by a legend it shows how difficult it is the relation between tradition and modernity. This is shown mainly in the relationship between Paikea and her Koro (grandfather).


The cast is amazing and the young actress Keisha Castle-Hughes gives a performance difficult to forget for an eleven year old actress. The casting director, Diana Rowan, was the same one who chose Anna Paquin for Jane Campion’s” The Piano”. Both actresses were nominated for an Oscar, and Keisha was the youngest ever to be nominated!
This is a very beautiful film that I recommend to anyone between 6 and 100 years old!