This is a hot issue of many cultures through the world even today, as women try to gain a respectable place by hard working. Through the movie whale rider, various religious themes such as having special powers, sacrificial love, rebirth and resurrection, nature and religion, and spiritual journey are represented. The theme in whale rider is to never give up in what you believe in or your culture or traditions. Niki caro based on the book by witi ihimaera prezi by. The theme of whale rider is female empowerment is not unique, but the context in which it is presented is very interesting and unusual. 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. We see the power of significant others to affect our self esteem, and the fact that, against strong odds, it is possible to assert ourselves and create an identity of our own. Many elements of nature and other religions demonstrate rebirth themes. The film is based on the whangara people from the east coast of new zealand, who believed that their existence was purely reliant on a brave prophet, also named paikea, who rode on the back of a whale. The mythical story of the whales told alongside the story of kahu discusses various important issues. 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. The leader bull whale is nostalgic and is thinking about the past, when he was young, his times with the whale rider. Whale rider also provides an occasion for research, oral presentations, and essay writing required skills in most ela curricula.
Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. In the hospital scene after pai rides the whale and is unconscious in the bed, the grandfather speaks maori to her, and in the movie an english translation appears as a subtitle on the screen with words to the effect of wise leader, forgive me for i am just a fledgling and new to flight. Whale rider theme study expectations by grace johnson on. This whale rider gives skewers a role as nurturing items to the islands, however one lance he throws years into the future, which is the season of the storys young champion kahu. Expectations pourorangi is expected to lead the community as a wise chief pourorangi is expected to look after paikea expected to have a son who will become chief expects tradition to stay relevant expected to follow his fathers plan koro nanny flowers is expected. Religious themes through the whale rider essay example. The story is based on the maori claim that they are descendants from paikea, the whale rider.
Jun 20, 2003 whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. In the film, whale rider, pai discovers her sense of self as she reinvents the maori tribes creation myth to. She is the protagonist in this film and narrates sections too. The world premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film festival. 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. With keisha castlehughes, rawiri paratene, vicky haughton, cliff curtis. 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. Themes in whale rider essays free essays studymode.
Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page. The two main characters of each story share one major characteristic in common. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below. The mature attitude towards these ageold themes helps to make whale rider is an exceptional film for a family audience. The whale rider is a 1987 novel by new zealander witi ihimaera. Leadership styles observed in whale rider dannette allen. According to legend, the maori came to whangara when their great leader paikea led them by riding on a whale. Whale rider mat no 10 storyboarding read the following excerpt from the book the whale rider. Plenty of rich themes are found in ihimaeras the whale. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale. On the eastern coast of new zealand, the whangara people believe their ancestor paikea was saved from drowning by riding home on the back of a whale. The film is intelligently written and directed, and at no point does it. 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.
Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film directed by niki caro, based on the novel of the same name by witi ihimaera. The movie begins with the birth of twins, the latest in that line. Whale rider 2002 niki caro synopsis, characteristics. The whale, in turn, was saved from death and loss of meaning in the modern world. Can you provide an example a scene character quote symbol from the film that shows this theme. Based on the novel of the same name by maori writer witi ihimaera, whale rider is a unique family drama directed niki caro. This movie showed that the main leadership qualities are loyalty, confidence and resilience. It explores themes of duty, culture and tradition through the eyes of paikea apirana. How do these motifs function as metaphors in the movie. The theme of rebirth and resurrection in this film can be seen as a christian theme symbolizing jesus rebirth after the crucifixion. Plenty of rich themes are found in ihimaeras the whale rider. There are physical things that are described in the book the sweep of the bay, the island that looks. Whale rider is set in the maori community of new zealand.
Despite its focus on maori culture, the themes in whale rider are universal and highlight important communication principles. The taniwha serves as the last test for paikea in the film. Whale rider when talking about choosing the location to shoot whale rider, the films producer, john barnett says. Eightyearold kahu, an individual from the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand, battles to demonstrate her affection, her authority, and her fate. Sep 30, 2017 the whale rider, by witi ihimaera, is rich in thematic concerns. The module consists of teachers notes and a handout with background information that you can copy and give to your students. Whale rider this module has been designed to accompany the film whale rider 2003. The movie opens with a young lady giving birth to twins. Nov 17, 2012 in the 2002 film, whale rider, the director, niki caro created a magnificently empowering movie that serves as an inspirational tool for females. 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. Watch whale rider 2002 full movie free online streaming tubi.
The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its back. 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 rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. Analyse and discuss the meaning of two symbols in the film the waka and the rope.
Her grandfather koro apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Disregarded by her village, a maori girl trains herself in the customs of her people to prove shes the rightful heir to her grandfather as chief. It saves her from the patriarchal system and shows koro she is the leader. Whale rider directed by niki caro notes english junior. Whale rider is an internationally successful new zealand film focusing on indigenous cultural issues. The whale rider themes what does the director suggest about the themes of culture, leadership and expectations.
Caro places this myth in modern times and uses it to explore themes that are as relevant to all society as they are to the small coastal community in which the film is. 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 born. Within this contemporaryfairy tale, whale rider also entails a spiritual bond that the main character, paikea, has with a quasimystical creature. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary. Myth, culture, and family in whale rider essay 1012. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale rider. Expectations and disappointments generational differences 5. Blackfish official trailer 20 documentary movie hd. The film whale rider tells the fictional story of pai, a twelveyearold girl. What does the waka in whale rider represent answers. The beginning of the story introduces the idea that man and nature are. The main social issue that is brought up by the film is the function of the woman in a world controlled mostly by men. When pai is the only remaining family descendent, koro becomes aggravated because she is female and will not be able to carry on the tradition of men as leaders. By tradition, the leader should be the firstborn son a.
Ever since, the maori have been led by the descendants of that leader. These two share many common themes such as sexism, discrimination, and loss. The idea of the whale rider is a maori myth but myths and legends are a huge part of any culture, and maoris are very proud of theirs. Whale rider theme study expectations by grace johnson on prezi. In the movie, whale rider, there are great examples of joseph campbells article, four functions of myth, which are. The film stars keisha castlehughes as kahu paikea apirana, a twelveyearold m. For english language arts classes, the movie offers an opportunity to explore theme and the literary devices of characterization, metaphor, symbol, and foil. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to earn her grandfathers.
Koro, who was the current leader, was in search for a new person to become the leader as his grandson, who was supposed to be the leader died at birth. The whale rider, by witi ihimaera, is rich in thematic concerns. Viewers are introduced to different characters throughout the movie, who have different opinions. For generations, this tribe was always told that a man is to be the leader. Traditional cultural changes and development has always been one of the most popular themes in films. Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. But kahu trying to prove to her koro that she can be a leader even if she is a female is a strong representation of what this book is about. Whale rider is a beneficial movie to anyone who watches it. The taniwha is the mythological whale or sea creature that paikea the ancestor rode on to lead the way to aeoteara new zealand originally. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. The indie film whale rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message.
In neil hurleys text theology through film he describes the common theme of sacrificial love in any humanity story one of the tests of humanity is precisely the. Whale rider is a film that takes place in a small new zealand costal village. Whale rider exemplified the ideology of patriarchy perfectly because of how koro ran his tribe. A key theme of the story is the sacredness of nature. This digital cdrom study guide considers and tracks the themes of the film.
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