On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Ko... (Full plot summary below)
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On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
Leave your thoughts about Whale Rider.
| Oregon HeraldMark SellsEncapsulates the grace and beauty of international cinema. |
| Washington PostAnn HornadayOne of the best performances -- and movies -- of the year so far. |
| Mark Reviews MoviesMark DujsikA wonderful, uplifting film about the healing power of communal growth and adaptation. |
| Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertThe genius of the movie is the way is sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving. |
| Los Angeles Daily NewsBob StraussThis correct-thinking audience favorite of the film festival circuit manages to work its girl empowerment, indigenous dignity and green mystical themes into a pat but still strongly felt study of family conflict. |
| Kalamazoo GazetteJames SanfordWhat can revitalize a broken spirit? The answer lies in the film's lyrical finale, which is dazzlingly staged, and in the exquisite, irresistible 13-year-old Castle-Hughes, whose natural, unfussy performance is something to treasure. |
| Movie MomNell MinowThe movie is not just genuinely lyrical, but, even harder to manage, it is lyrically genuine. |
| UK CriticIan Waldron-MantganiIt's a pretty obvious triumph-over-the-odds story -- a Maori Karate Kid at a deliberate pace -- but Hughes is terrific. |
| Movie EyeFrank OchiengPoignant, intelligent, courageous and informative, Caro's lyrical exposition dares to take on the imagination of children and their adult counterparts and whisk them away in a somber storytelling mood that's culturally compelling. |
| Denver PostLisa KennedyWhale Rider is one of those book-me -a-ticket yesterday movies. |
