I've been wanting to write this for a while now, but just haven't had the chance, nor remembered when I had extra time.

But if you ever have a free night, and you're looking for a movie to rent, rent 'Whale Rider'.

'Whale Rider' is the story of Pai, a young Maori girl in New Zealand who's grandfather is the leader of her tribe. Her twin brother, who died at childbirth, was to be the tribe's next leader. The death of her brother broke a line of male heirs way back to her ancestor Pikea, who legend said came to New Zealand from Hawai'i on the back of a whale. Her grandfather never forgave Pai for being the one who lived.

So she goes through life trying to live up to her grandfather's expectations, but never pleasing him. And her tribe is need of a new leader. Her grandfather takes all the young boys in the tribe to teach them the old ways, but will not allow Pike to learn because she is a girl. But she knows that she is better than any of the boys, and she knows that she can lead her people.

So it's your typical 'girls can't do this because of tradition' movie, yet it's so much more. All the performances in the movie are powerful, especially the grandfather's and Pai's. It touches on the differences between generations, trying to maintain a dying culture and learning that sometimes to move on, tradition has to change. And the movie blurs the line between reality and fantasy...the ending is just beautiful.

I've always had an interest in the Maori culture, and never knew how rich the culture was in New Zealand. The movie gives a wonderful insight into an unfamiliar culture. All the extras in the movie are from the actual tribe where the film was filmed, and the backdrop of the New Zealand coast is breathaking.

So see it. It'll make you feel good.

Posted by Yano at January 31, 2004 01:21 PM

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