Film Details on The Internet Movie Database

~ for Whale Rider (2002)

Directed by Niki Caro
Writing credits: Sir Witi Ihimaera (novel) and Niki Caro (screenplay)
Genre: Drama / Family (more) View a Trailer for "Whale Rider"

View a Trailer for "Whale Rider"

Photo gallery for Whale Rider (2002)

Taglines
- One young girl dared to confront the past, change the present and determine the future
- In the ways of the Ancients, she found a hope for the future

Plot Summary for Whale Rider (2002)
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. Summary written by berkeley

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paikea - Keisha Castle-Hughes
Koro - Rawiri Paratene
Nanny Flowers -Vicky Haughton
Porourangi - Cliff Curtis
Uncle Rawiri - Grant Roa
Hemi - Mana Taumaunu
Shilo -Rachel House
Willie - Taungaroa Emile
Dog -Tammy Davis
Maka (as Mabel Wharekawa-Burt) - Mabel Wharekawa
Miro - Rawinia Clarke
Miss Parata - Tahei Simpson
Hemi's Dad (as Roimata Tamana) - Roi Taimana
Rehua - Elizabeth Skeen
Jake (as Tyrone White) - Tyronne White
(more)

Trivia

Director Niki Caro insisted that Rawiri Paratene (Koro) stay in character throughout the entirety of the shooting process.

At auditions for the role of Paikea, Keisha Castle-Hughes told casting directors that she could swim. However, when it came time to film the swimming scenes, she admitted she couldn't but she did it anyway.

Many of Pai's swimming scenes were in fact done by Keisha Castle-Hughes's stand-in Waio Parata-Haua, because Keisha Castle-Hughes could not swim well.

Niki Caro said during the director's commentary that Pai's crying speech scene was done in one take, but using two cameras. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties there was a short break however, in which time Keisha's tutor and chaperone helped her to stay in character in with the same emotions.

A scene showing Keisha Castle-Hughes vomiting was cut because Niki Caro felt that Keisha's vomiting wasn't convincing enough.

Much of the film is about Paikea doing traditional Maori things which women were not supposed to do (e.g. sitting in the canoe, fighting). The film cast and crew performed special Maori chants in order to ward off traditional bad luck that might arise from Keisha Castle-Hughes doing the things as part of the film.

The English translations for the Maori words used in the movie:

Te Reo - Maori language
Kaumatua - Elder
Rangatira - Chief
Wharenui - Meeting house
Tikanga - Customs
Whakapapa - Genealogy
Tapu - Sacred
Waka - Canoe
Haka - Dance
Karanga - Call
Karakia - Prayer
Taiaha - Fighting stick
Mau rakau - Stick fighting
Moko/Mokopuna - Grandchild
Marae - Meeting place

Memorable Quotes

Paikea: Why doesn't he want me?
Porourangi: He's just looking for something that doesn't exist anymore.
Paikea: A new leader? They exist.

Paikea: It's not Koro's fault, that I'm a girl.

Porourangi: Her name is Paikea.
Koro: No, not that name.

Paikea: My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs.

Koro: When she was born, that's when things went wrong for us.

Paikea: A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe... until now.

Koro: Wise leader, forgive me. I am only a fledgling new to flight.

[about her brother]
Paikea: They were waiting for their new leader... but he died.

Technical Details:
"Whale Rider" aka "Te kaieke tohora" (New Zealand: Maori title)

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for brief language and a momentary drug reference.
Runtime: 101 min
Country: New Zealand / Germany
Language: English / Maori
Color: Color
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Certification:
Argentina:Atp
Australia:PG
Brazil:Livre
Canada:PG
Finland:K-7
Germany:6
Hong Kong:IIA
Ireland:PG
Netherlands:AL
New Zealand:PG
Norway:11
Portugal:M/6
Singapore:PG
Sweden:7
Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva)
Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud)
Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons)
UK:PG
USA:PG-13
Canada:G (Quebec)