Whale Rider (2002)
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.
Rated PG-13 for brief language and a momentary drug reference.
Runtime: 101 minutes
Country: New Zealand | Germany
Language: English | Maori
Color: Color
Company: South Pacific Pictures
Two students completed reviews of this movie. Both reviews and theological conversations are appended below.
