Film review
Content
Page 1 of 3 Justin Smith Professor Contor ENG 1510 20 Oct. 2011 Liberal Changes in a Conservative Environment: Themes of Whale Rider(2002) Whale Rider revolves around the story of a a young Maori girl named Paikea and her journey to fulfill her destiny as the leader of their small tribal community. The story begins with the birth of Paikea and her twin brother; who, along with their mother, dies during the child birth. Her grandfather, Koro, is upset as the boy was prophecised to be the next leader of their community. Koro gets into an argument with Paikea's father Porourangi over the name of the newly born girl as the distraught father leaves the hospital. Paikea's grandmother, known simply as Nanny Flowers, makes a reluctant Koro accept his new granddaughter even though she is not the boy he wanted. With this, the tone of the movie's main theme is set. Throughout the film our main protagonist,hereafter referred to as Pai, struggles to gain acceptance by Koro as the next village leader. Koro, representing the conservation of Maori culture and values, does not see Pai as a potential leader for the community. As the viewers however we see Pai's interest in her heritage, as well as her natural leadership abilities. After the opening hospital scene we see Pai riding on Koro's bike laughing and smiling; they seem to have a good grandfather-granddaughter relationship. However in the next scene Pai's father has returned to visit and an argument with Koro breaks out when he reveals his new fiance and her pregnancy. Koro accuses Porourangi of betraying his peoples and tells him to take Pai with him as she is no more use to him. As they are driving away Pai decides she cannot leave; however, when she returns to to the village Koro brushes her off as he is too busy
Page 2 of 3 discussing his new “Traditional School” with 2 of the other elder men of the community. In the next scene Koro has gathered the young boys of the village and their parents; for the opening of his traditional school to find the community's next leader. Pai arrives late as Koro did not go to the school to pick her up; as he had done daily for years; when Koro tells Pai to sit in the back because she is a girl she refuses; angered, Koro makes her leave. This is the prominent scene in setting up their relationship for the rest of the film which is what translates into the main theme of the movie, the acceptance of something new and non-traditional into a traditionally conservative culture/community. Throughout the rest of the film Pai will continually attempt to gain access to the school; learn the traditional teachings; and generally defy her grandfather, Koro; who, will refuse to see Pai for the natural leader she is, as he is so stubborn to the traditional ways of thinking. None of this is surprising; in fact, I would have been much more surprised watching the film had Koro immediately accepted his granddaughter, Pai, as a legitimate successor. In most Pacific-Islander cultures like the Maori of New Zealand, the men are typically both the warriors and leaders of the tribes/communities; while, the women do the traditional gender role work of raising the younger children, cooking, cleaning, and other “menial” tasks. In fact this is not far off from most cultures and all of society around the world; whether it be from past, present, and most likely the near future as well. This is not to say that women do not belong in the professional and cultural areas dominated by men, ( or vice-versa); it is simply the way things are. Setting aside the cultural and religious aspects of the film; Paikea is very much like many of the women in today’s politics. She is smart, outgoing, and has interest in more things than just the typical cooking, cleaning, and raising babies. In fact she seems to have more interest in the
Page 3 of 3 areas typically associated with men; fixing things, the warrior ethos, and leadership of their community. In actuality it could be said that Pai has more interest than her male peers, and she most definitely excels beyond most of them at all the tasks that Koro presents to them. She also brings to the table something very important to any leader: initiative. When Koro refuses to let Pai into the school, she takes it upon herself to learn the use of their taiaha fighting sticks, and the other cultural traditions from her uncle and other family members. When Koro is trying to start an outboard boat engine; he explains that the rope is like their community; that singularly each fiber is weak, but woven together they are strong. He then gets angry as the rope breaks when he tries to start the engine again. After Koro goes away to get a new rope, Pai fixes the rope and manages to start the engine. Instead of being proud; Koro becomes angered and tells Pai to never do that again. This is a strong symbol used in the movie, representing Koro's stubbornness to change as weakening and even breaking the community; while Pai is able to repair it; nonetheless, Koro refuses to recognize this. In the climax of the film, Koro is greatly saddened at the loss of a whale tooth that the male candidates could not retrieve from the grotto; unbeknownst to Koro, Pai retrieved the tooth. Many whales that the Maori revere as their ancients wash up onto the beach near their home. As they all struggle to pull the largest whale into the water using a rope and tractor, the rope breaks and they lose hope. Pai gets on the whale and is able to somehow coax it back into the water. The entire community sees Pai riding on the back of the whale like her namesake: their ancestor Paikea. Pai's grandmother hands Koro the missing whale tooth and he asks “Which one?” She replies “What do you mean which one!” The next scene shows Pai leading the entire reunited community on a newly built boat; during a tribal ritual. Together Pai and Koro; new and old, lead their community to new beginnings.
Page 2 of 3 discussing his new “Traditional School” with 2 of the other elder men of the community. In the next scene Koro has gathered the young boys of the village and their parents; for the opening of his traditional school to find the community's next leader. Pai arrives late as Koro did not go to the school to pick her up; as he had done daily for years; when Koro tells Pai to sit in the back because she is a girl she refuses; angered, Koro makes her leave. This is the prominent scene in setting up their relationship for the rest of the film which is what translates into the main theme of the movie, the acceptance of something new and non-traditional into a traditionally conservative culture/community. Throughout the rest of the film Pai will continually attempt to gain access to the school; learn the traditional teachings; and generally defy her grandfather, Koro; who, will refuse to see Pai for the natural leader she is, as he is so stubborn to the traditional ways of thinking. None of this is surprising; in fact, I would have been much more surprised watching the film had Koro immediately accepted his granddaughter, Pai, as a legitimate successor. In most Pacific-Islander cultures like the Maori of New Zealand, the men are typically both the warriors and leaders of the tribes/communities; while, the women do the traditional gender role work of raising the younger children, cooking, cleaning, and other “menial” tasks. In fact this is not far off from most cultures and all of society around the world; whether it be from past, present, and most likely the near future as well. This is not to say that women do not belong in the professional and cultural areas dominated by men, ( or vice-versa); it is simply the way things are. Setting aside the cultural and religious aspects of the film; Paikea is very much like many of the women in today’s politics. She is smart, outgoing, and has interest in more things than just the typical cooking, cleaning, and raising babies. In fact she seems to have more interest in the
Page 3 of 3 areas typically associated with men; fixing things, the warrior ethos, and leadership of their community. In actuality it could be said that Pai has more interest than her male peers, and she most definitely excels beyond most of them at all the tasks that Koro presents to them. She also brings to the table something very important to any leader: initiative. When Koro refuses to let Pai into the school, she takes it upon herself to learn the use of their taiaha fighting sticks, and the other cultural traditions from her uncle and other family members. When Koro is trying to start an outboard boat engine; he explains that the rope is like their community; that singularly each fiber is weak, but woven together they are strong. He then gets angry as the rope breaks when he tries to start the engine again. After Koro goes away to get a new rope, Pai fixes the rope and manages to start the engine. Instead of being proud; Koro becomes angered and tells Pai to never do that again. This is a strong symbol used in the movie, representing Koro's stubbornness to change as weakening and even breaking the community; while Pai is able to repair it; nonetheless, Koro refuses to recognize this. In the climax of the film, Koro is greatly saddened at the loss of a whale tooth that the male candidates could not retrieve from the grotto; unbeknownst to Koro, Pai retrieved the tooth. Many whales that the Maori revere as their ancients wash up onto the beach near their home. As they all struggle to pull the largest whale into the water using a rope and tractor, the rope breaks and they lose hope. Pai gets on the whale and is able to somehow coax it back into the water. The entire community sees Pai riding on the back of the whale like her namesake: their ancestor Paikea. Pai's grandmother hands Koro the missing whale tooth and he asks “Which one?” She replies “What do you mean which one!” The next scene shows Pai leading the entire reunited community on a newly built boat; during a tribal ritual. Together Pai and Koro; new and old, lead their community to new beginnings.
