Whale Rider

Movie • 2002

mayapatel
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6mo

A magical story about ancestry, courage, and breaking tradition. Keisha Castle-Hughes is unforgettable. Truly soul-stirring.

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Overview

A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.


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Found on the web

Common Sense Media

Excellent, gorgeous Māori drama has uplifting messages.

commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/whale-rider

Roger Ebert

It’s not just an uplifting ending, but a transcendent one, inspired and inspiring, and we realize how special this movie really is.

rogerebert.com/reviews/whale-rider-2003

Spirituality & Practice

This enchanting and beautifully acted New Zealand film is written and directed by Niki Caro based on a 1986 novel by Witi Ihimaera. The deeply spiritual message of the drama is that Pai must pursue her destiny as a leader in face of the powerful patriarchal tradition espoused by Koro...

spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/5940/whale-rider

Film Obsessive

"Her struggle for acceptance is equal parts inspirational as it is gut-wrenching. I had forgotten how heartbreaking Paikea’s story really is, every time she takes a step forward, she is shoved back down to the ground with the hardest of thuds."

filmobsessive.com/film/film-analysis/film-genres/world-cinema/whale-rider-a-humbling-hearkbreaking-story-about-acceptance-2/

Letterboxd

This is the only movie about a precocious child that I like. Well this and Matilda, I guess. Also Annie. Ok this is the only non-musical movie about a precocious child I like.

letterboxd.com/film/whale-rider/

Rotten Tomatoes

Few coming-of-age stories blend so seamlessly indigenous identity through spiritual belief and balance the reality of a world where such belief has been devalued.

rottentomatoes.com/m/whale_rider/reviews

IMDb

This is more than just a film, it's a viewing experience that everyone must see! Beautiful, haunting and a performance that you will never forget.

imdb.com/title/tt0298228/reviews/