The movie, written and directed by Niki Caro, inspired by a novel by Witi Ihimaera, describes these events within the rhythms of daily life. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths and Helen Tiffin, Key Concepts in Post-Colonial Studies, London and New York, Routledge, 1998. It follows the journeys of Pai, a young girl, and Koro, her grandfather, who both seek to uphold and preserve the Maori tradition, which has been negatively influenced by the European culture. Analysis of the Whale Rider The film's plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana ("Pai") [In the book, her name is Kahu, short for Kahutia Te Rangi], a 12-year-old girl who is the only living child in the line of the tribe's chiefly succession following the death of her twin brother and mother when she was born. WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF INTERNALIZED OPPRESSION Porourangi worked on building a Waka (canoe), a Maori cultural tradition, before the birth of his twins but due to his loss of wife and son, he stops and moves to Germany. By continuing, well assume you agree with our Cookies policy. Whale Rider Film Analysis - 949 Words | Bartleby The films plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana (Pai)[In the book, her name is Kahu, short for Kahutia Te Rangi], a 12-year-old girl who is the only living child in the line of the tribes chiefly succession following the death of her twin brother and mother when she was born. He doesnt see that Pai is the leader that the people of Maori have been waiting for. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Whale Rider (Lions Gate) (2002)(DVD)*DISC ONLY at the best online prices at eBay! As such, the film does not present a simple rejection of modernity, rather it is the recovery of tradition in modernity, and sometimes against identity, that makes possible the renewal of identity of Paikeas people (Smith 2006: 116). Paikea trains in secret, eavesdropping on Koros classes, determined to learn all she can of her ancestral customs. Whale Rider (15th Anniversary Edition) [New Blu-ray] Shout Factory Select. However, Nanny tells Pai that her second son, Pais uncle, had won a taiaha tournament in his youth while he was still slim, so Pai secretly learns from him. Find out how you match to her and 5500+ other characters. berkeley Synopsis Porourangi offers to take Paikea with him back to Europe, but as she looks out to sea she feels the pull of her ancestors and cannot abandon her heritage. Sponsored. Eventually, he begins teaching classes that teach the young boys how to act like true tribesmen. Pride can be seen in both positive and negative ways. The following chapter will compare and contrast the content, the structure, e.g. what's in your head right now? You may use it as a guide or sample for $15.00. Whale Rider (Lions Gate) (2002)(DVD)*DISC ONLY 31398145769 | eBay We see the different techniques employed by composers through Peter Skrzyneckis Crossing the Red Sea and Immigrants at Central Station, Shirley Geok-lin Lims The Town Where Time Stands Still and The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham., The killer whale, also known as an orca, is known to be the largest dolphin. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. The conflict between him and Pai is caused by Koros refusal to acknowledge Pai as the inheritor of the tradition, Koro is blinded by prejudice, and nobody can convince him that Pai is the natural heir. When Kahu is nine years old, a group of about 200 whales are stranded in shallow waters. When Koro finds out he chastises Paikea, warning her that by tampering with sacred traditions she has shamed her community. In the end everyone from the village is celebrating her status as a leader, and working together, the waka is finished and is taken into the sea. He causes Pai much hurt by doubting her, questioning her achievements, insisting in the face of everything she achieves that she is only a girl. Available at www.indiewire.com/article/girl_power_new_zealand_ writerdirector_niki_caro_talks_about_whale_ rider. The old culture is continuously struggling to keep alive, to keep its people, its unigue traditions and customs, in a quickly changing world, that leaves the past behind. The film shows New Zealanders, as an example for the rest of the world, that the past civilizations and cultures can continue to live on in harmony with todays world. There are several enduring issues, such as the impact of cultural diffusion, or that of imperialism, presented Family is an important concept. Sison (2012: 134) proposes that this ending follows a particular theological trajectory, with Paikeas symbolic reincarnation having a transformative impact on the community. Tradition as a Tool for Oppressing Women in Witi Ihimaera's The Whale Rider The Influence of Beliefs on Individual Life in Witi Ihimaera's "The Whale Rider." In the Paikea tribe, only the first-born son should be the leader of the tribe, which proves difficult for Paikea, since she is a female. Years later Koro is determined to find a leader and begins to teach and train the boys, in which Pai is not allowed to join because she is a girl. She also secretly follows Koros lessons. However, Koro was late, and as he was walking to the school, he notices that numerous right whales are beached near Pais home. what's in your head right now what's in your head I'm feeling lost in atmospheres I'm feeling lost Therefore, Whale Rider emphasises the benefits of bicultural cooperation, incorporating what Duncan Petrie (2007: 172) describes as a utopian embrace of common humanity as an alternative strategy of dealing with the trauma of the past. Pai herself is interested in the leadership, learning traditional songs and dances, but is given little encouragement by her grandfather. Living in Whangara, a small Maori village in New Zealand. Whale Rider is a contemporary re-telling of the 1000-year-old legend about legendary first ancestor named Paikea. This relationship is ambivalent since the colonised subject is never completely opposed to the coloniser. The novel Things Fall Apart (1958) by Chinua Achebe and the film Whale Rider (2002) by Niki Caro both address the overcoming of emotional boundaries, while following the progress of the main characters. For example, Porourangi uses international travel to escape the pain of losing his loved ones, as well as the responsibility to produce a male son that Koro believes will lead his people out of the darkness. Whale Rider exemplified the Ideology of Patriarchy perfectly because of how Koro ran his tribe. I feel like its a lifeline. By tradition, the leader should be the first-born son a direct patrilineal descendant of Paikea, aka Kahutia Te Rangi in the book, the Whale Rider he who rode on top of a whale from Hawaiki. Every single author creates some sort of journey in the stories that they write, no matter what form or medium it is in, there is always a journey being taken. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Instead, she spies on them and does everything the class does, except by herself. The whales are a symbol of Kahu's tribe: when the whales are safe, the tribe is safe. Indeed, as Ryan Mottesheard (2003) argues, the film should be understood less as anthropological study of the Maori people, than a universal story of female empowerment, thus highlighting the films global appeal. They are going there to do whatever is necessary to make sure Japan does not kill any whales as it is illegal to kill whales in this sanctuary in Antarctica. She rises to her grandfathers disapproval and even Whale Rider tells the story of Pai, who faces the subtle resentment of her grandfather Koro as he attempts to re-establish the old traditions of their ancestors. Which gives citizens the right to uphold laws when governments are too scared to do so. The bull whale remembers his master, the "golden man. 4.08 Graded Assignment Creating an American Mythology redone.docx By Maori tradition, the tribes chief must be a direct descendant of the mythical Paikea, with first-born sons continuing this custom ever since. And if that were not bad enough, Paikea (Pai) lost her father as well. The program saw the city offer up to $1,200 for anyone looking to buy an electric bike, an additional $500 was also available for anyone considering a cargo bike. (1998: 139), this highlights a form of colonial mimicry, whereby the indigenous population adopts the colonisers cultural habits. us: [emailprotected]. The families of Maori have also become ruptured for example, when Hemi goes up to present his father only stays for a little while to watch him then leaves with his friends. However, Pai is female and technically cannot inherit the leadership. for only $16.05 $11/page. In the arena of urban international competitiveness, cities try to raise their profile by We use cookies to offer you the best experience. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. When the audience is watching the film, they compare their own family experiences with the ones in the story. A close-up camera shot allows the audience to focus on a character's feelings or thoughts. A special attention should be paid to a the concept of shadows in the story, as it has an important meaning. Pais father refuses to assume traditional leadership; instead he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist. The book argues that Rider Haggard's She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, Bram Stoker's female vampires and Conrad's destructive Malayan or African women, even Hardy's Tess, are all caught up in a series of late 19th-century contexts: biological determinism, imperialism, race, theories about female sexuality, degeneration and evolutionary theory. What does the waka in whale rider represent? - Answers 194 lessons. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Pai's Opening Voice-Over PAI (narrating): In the old days the land felt a great emptiness that was waiting, waiting to be filled up, waiting for someone to love her, waiting for a leader. It's not just an uplifting ending, but a transcendent one, inspired and inspiring, and we realize how special this movie really is. Caro effectively uses the different generations starting with the eldest, that of Koro and other traditional leaders, to the youngest generation of Paikea through a complex story that shows traditional change. The story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her . Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand drama film written and directed by Niki Caro.Based on the 1987 novel The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Mori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe.