Film is adapted from the novel whale rider first published 1987 by witi ihimaera. Only kahu understands that she is the whale rider, and that she must guide the whales back to the safety of the sea. Every culture has its own traditions and many of the times these traditions are broken when new generations are born. Ihimaera has written quite a long list of books and short stories but the whale rider is probably his most well known due to the 2002 film of the same name. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below. Her father porourangi cliff curtis names her after paikea, the legendary whale rider who brought their people to new zealand eons ago. In whale rider, the whale symbolizes life and death. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. Keisha castlehughes, rawiri paratene, vicky haughton, cliff curtis. I know who you were meant to be, who you were born to be. The movie begins with the birth of twins, the latest in that line. According to legend, the maori came to whangara when their great leader paikea led them by riding on a whale. Whale rider is set in the maori community of new zealand. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to earn her grandfathers.
Myth, culture, and family in whale rider essay 1012. Koro, the leader of a community that was once dominated my ancient rules and laws passed down many generations, struggles to find a suitable leader who can improve the way of life and bring back the. Pai climbs on top of the largest beached whale and urges it back into the sea, presumably leading the other whales. Koro has high expectations for the local community and he is deeply disappointed when his expectation. Pais mother died during childbirth and her artist father has left new zealand. The books narrator, kahus uncle rawiri, then explains that the tribes first chief and ancestor, kahutia te rangi, who is also called paikea, came to their land on. Although very adventurous and brave, pai, who should have been the first born. Her grandfather koro apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. In every generation since kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief. Jun 20, 2003 whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. Whale rider takes place in present day new zealand, where a 12yearold girl named pai keisha castlehughes is growing up in an allmaori community. This is the final scene of whale rider we see the celebration of the new leader paikea apirana. Indeed, the books author, witi ihimaera, says he wrote whale rider a.
Jun 06, 2012 the whale rider itself is an integral historical part of the tribe in this story, who believes that their ancestor comes into the land by riding on a whale s back. For years, the honor of leading the tribe always falls to the firstborn son in a patrilineal line of descendants. The films plot follows the story of paikea apirana pai in the book, her name is kahu, short for kahutia te rangi, a 12yearold 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. Introduction the whale rider revolves around paikea. This magical and mythical novel tells of the conflict between tradition and heritage.
Ever since, the maori have been led by the descendants of that leader. The whale rider is a 1987 novel by new zealander witi ihimaera. In my opinion, whale rider has been tried to deliver three different messages. Hardy agrees and states viewed within this framework the supernatural elements of a maori worldview contained within whale rider are therefore merely a rich generic, resource for making the kind of profound and uplifting narrative that will appeal to audiences from a variety of cultures. Now, so many years after their separation, the nostalgia for their time spent together cuts away at the old bull whale. In a small new zealand coastal village, maori claim descent from paikea, the whale rider. The world premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film festival. It takes a series of startling events and adventures before the village elder, her grandfather, finally realises that she really is the reincarnation of the first maori, the whale rider of the title.
In the end, koro realizes his mistake refuting pais legitmacy as chief. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. Many books have been made into movies, and they are often not at all faithful to the original, other than the name, and usually the names of the characters. May 01, 2003 the whale rider is definitely in my top ten list of alltime favorite books. The theme of unconditional love is prevalent, and plays a large role in the second half of the book whale rider by witi ihimaera. During the scene on the beach with the beached whales, right after paka has learned that it was his granddaughter that brought back the whale s tooth, there are two shots of him from the same angle with one in between. How to read this book 16 conclusion 17 summary 17 key concepts 17. Analysis of the whale rider essay example graduateway. The whale rider together with yavaraj athur raghuvir i watched the movie called the whale rider which deals with the issue of cultural restrains both as an individual and as a society. Her greatgrandfather is chief of the whangara, who are descendants of a legendary whale rider. Third, kahu meet her fate be the the next whale rider bite her greatgrandfather is the important part.
The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and. Whale rider is the story of a female child who is not allowed to be the leader and whale rider due to her gender. Though some of her family members deny the fact that she will not be qualified to run the people she still showed in multiple ways that she was qualified. This is a huge mistake and takes away one of the most important parts of the film. Blending legend with a reality thats both gritty and beautiful, this novel was made into a movie that was released in the united states just prior to the books publication here. Whale rider set in the east coast town of whangara, whale rider tells the tale of a young maori girl, pai keisha castlehughes, who challenges tradition and embraces the past in order to find the strength to lead her people forward.
In the movie whale rider by niki caro, the theme is subjugation of women and the main character paikea manages to surpass the patriarchal beliefs so she is a winner which is good for the community and that makes for a happy ending. The movie left in a happy ending with her dad and new girlfriend all together. If youve ever felt discriminated against because of your gender, this is the book for you. The classic book that inspired the awardwinning, internationally released film whale rider, winner of best film at the 2003 sundance film festival and 2004 academy awards best actress nomination for keisha castlehughes. Use this lesson plan to increase student comprehension for the whale rider by witi ihimaera. Eightyearold kahu, a member of the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. Ancestor of the people of te tai rawhiti, he travelled from hawaiki, the place of the ancients, to the east coast of new zealand. The 60 ft 18 mlong waka seen at the end of the film was made in two halves in auckland before being transported to whangara. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. But now there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a successor. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of whale rider by witi ihimaera. If you have the tooth of a whale, you must have the jaw of the whale to wield it. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera.
Niki caro based on the book by witi ihimaera prezi by. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Setting whale rider whale rider is set in a small village called whangara, on the east coast of the north island of new zealand. Her twin, the hopedfor son and future chief, died at birth along with his mother.
There are a lot of maori wordsdont make my mistake and find out about the glossary halfway through the book, yeah. The whale rider epilogue summary and analysis gradesaver. Whale rider in the move this touches on the culture and tradition of the maori people. What does the waka in whale rider represent answers. Show koros mistake and his regret and he takes responsibility. There are virtually no whites in the film and only childrens tshirts and some. Paikea keisha castlehughes is the only surviving child of a chiefs son. He says he was sitting in his new york home one day. Eightyearold kahu craves her greatgrandfathers love and attention.
The bull whale is leading his herd downward into the depths of the sea, and seven females closely flank him, singing for him out of happiness that he has rejoined them. While the chief, koro, strives to find a male heir to lead the tribe, his greatgranddaughter, kahu who performs all the tasks necessary to become the next leader, is ignored by him because she is a girl. The turmoil of the human soul and the effect of love on it is a mystery, and mark is trying to solve the mystery of love and how it affects the tender soul of melville and produce moby dick and how hawthorne was a catalyst. The taniwha is the mythological whale or sea creature that paikea the ancestor rode on to lead the way to aeoteara new zealand originally. Ending spoiler for whale rider 2002, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Firstly, this film shows a message about expectation and disappointment. The whale mistakes kahu for its old masterkahus ancient ancestor. While pai lives in present day whangara, new zealand with her grandparents, maori tradition maintains that the leadership should. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The whale in this context of whangara takes on the mythical origins of the taniwha but also serves as a lineage to paikeas mythological escape story. Her people claim descent from kahutia te rangi, the legendary whale rider. If i was in english class, id write a long descript essay into the characters and the morals etc. The whale rider by witi ihimaera, jay lagaaia, audiobook.
Ann mcclellans global literature class at plymouth state university. Based on the novel of the same name by witi ihimaera, the film stars keisha castlehughes as kahu paikea apirana, a twelveyearold maori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. Coupling a specific sense of place and culture with a. Koro, the whale rider, first exhibits male superiority and gender roles when paikea speaks about her birth, there was no gladness when i was born. It also represents a myth of the maori people about a man named paikea meaning humpback whale who is and ancestor of a tribe in the south island. I loved the tough love and respect between the grandpa and paika. The first greatgrandchild of the whanau, she was loved by all her relatives except the one whose love she needed mosther greatgrandfather.
The whale rider the films plot follows the story of paikea apirana paiin the book, her name is kahu, short for kahutia te rangi, a 12yearold girl who is the only living child in the line of the tribes chiefly succession following the. Indeed, the book s author, witi ihimaera, says he wrote whale rider a modern retelling of a maori legend in response to his daughters complaining about the boy always being the. The whale mothers look over their young while the single leader whale the bull whale reminisces about his own youth so long ago, and the precious time he spent with the whale rider. The story takes place in new zealand where the maori people of a small village claim descent from the whale rider, paikea. An analysis of the culture and traditions of the maori. It is about the struggles of a maori girl, paikea, to succeed her grandfather as leader of her tribe in spite of tradition dictating that the chief be male. Jan 01, 1987 the whale rider was a book i was quite drawn to, as i am a kiwi, and i love new zealand. While pai lives in present day whangara, new zealand with her grandparents, maori tradition maintains that the leadership should only be inherited by males. Te kaieke tohora is a 2002 film based on the book the whale rider by witi ihimaera. The whale rider the snail and the whale a whale of a tale all about porpoises, dolphins, and whales cat in the hats learning library who would win. Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. I am always on the lookout for films with positive messages, and especially when they give kids insights to another country or culture. The two main characters of each story share one major characteristic in common. The readings the whale rider and a presentation of whales both lead us new viewpoints about whales and their natural life areas.
These two share many common themes such as sexism, discrimination, and loss. First published in 1987 in new zealandthe authors homeland as well as. Similarly, the book is rather ordinary near the beginning, and the writing is too simple. Whale rider takes a different and, in the end, perhaps a more powerful approach. I absolutely adore everything about it, and really do think theres something everyone can relate to in this story. Whale rider winter and epilogue flashcards quizlet. In antigone, there are many showcases of mens superiorities. The plot attracts your attention from the very beginning till the last page.
The novel is set in modern times and there are some references that link it into the late 1970s and early 1980s. In the film, whale rider, pai discovers her sense of self as she reinvents the maori tribes creation myth to. Whale rider scenes summary by mia tarquinio on prezi. She rides it well out to sea, narrating that she has no fear of death. The maori, the native polynesian people of new zealand, are looking for a male descendant of paikea the brave leader.
Koro then asks her for forgiveness from the great leader. This whale rider casts spears as lifegiving objects to the islands, but one spear he casts years into the future, which is the time of the storys young heroine kahu. The movie whale rider by niki caro 1481 words 6 pages. Jun 01, 2014 it is much more subtle, and although we see some of the same lessons as we see rawiri and his biker friends fight on the side of the elderly community members who try to save many beached whales, still the message is an undertone, and the final ending of the book is openended, and we know that now koro will let kahu be the female leader shes. As mentioned before, this relationship has clear evidence from past sections of the book and even receives explicit mention from rawiri. The whale rider abstract whale rider is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of witi ihimaera, and directed by niki caro. The epilogue begins focusing again on the whale herd, this time though in present times.
This video fits the requirement for the whale rider video analysis of dr. The new zealand film whale rider tells the story of 12year old pai, a maori girl whose ancestor paikea was the whale rider. First things should be a little koro toes part become whale rider. In the first shot on the hill far behind him there are two people standing there, yet in the second shot they are gone. From the beginning, we already can see that there is a disappointment within koro the grandfather. To meet kahu fate of almost help her become the first woman whale rider. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The way paika respected her grandfather even when he said she was useless to him and the way the grandfather loved her but didnt show it often. In the movie, whale rider, there are great examples of joseph campbells article, four functions of myth, which are. In the film whale rider depicts a culture in transition. In my opinion the book the whale rider is a stunning book that makes us walk between the past and present and the sea and land with the landscapes of humans eyes against whales and the humans life from whale s. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its back.
The whale rider is definitely in my top ten list of alltime favorite books. Can someone compare the whale rider book and movie to me i. The chiefs eldest son, porourangi, fathers twins a boy and a girl. Whale rider 2002 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers. The movie whale rider, directed by niki caro, have many things in common with the book nervous conditions, written in 2002 by tsitsi dangarembga. The whale rider the films plot follows the story of paikea apirana paiin the book, her name is kahu, short for kahutia te rangi, a 12yearold 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. The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. However, in the next scene her family is waiting for her to wake up in the hospital and her grandfather has finally gained respect for her. Weave together the threads of paikea, so that our lines remain strong. In every generation for over 1,000 years, a male heir born to the chief succeeds to the title.
In the end, koro regrets pai not being chief earlier in the film. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. It won the audience awards as the most popular film at both the toronto and sundance film festivals, played to standing ovations, left audiences in tears. Kahu, an eightyearold maori girl, adores her greatgrandfather, koro apirana, but he pays her little attention. With keisha castlehughes, rawiri paratene, vicky haughton, cliff curtis. When she was born, thats when things went wrong for us. I really felt for kahu or pai especially, and now i will look up to her as a favoured character. Students will read an informational text to summarize the book s plot and analyze key events before. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. Overcoming gender roles to unite the whangara the film whale rider tells the fictional story of pai, a twelveyearold girl living with her grandparents in the small community of whangara on the coast of new zealand. Witi ihimaera is the first maori writer ever to have published both a book of short stories and a novel. Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page.
155 355 1196 451 672 1528 730 751 778 382 798 417 294 79 850 646 927 351 1224 1581 1043 587 109 101 1041 1412 951 736 555 946 1130 269 1478 449 880 969 1353 921 370 1321 652 973 512