What is the message of the movie Whale Rider?
Despite its focus on Maori culture, the themes in Whale Rider are universal and highlight important communication principles. 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.
What is the main conflict in Whale Rider?
The main conflicts of the film are between Pai and her grandfather, as well as Koro and Porourangi when the man refuses to become the chief and leaves. The first conflict is only resolved when the Koro sees the evidence that the girl is ready to become the leader when she manages to return the whale into the sea.
What does the whale symbolize in Whale Rider?
In the film Whale Rider, the whale represents life and death. The whale represents life because it is the mammal on which Paikea’s great ancestor rode across the ocean reaching New Zealand which eventually became the settlement of the Maori people.
What is the creation story of Whale Rider about?
Whale riders According to the story, the ancestor Paikea was enticed on a fishing trip with others. During this, his jealous brother Ruatapu sank the canoe in an effort to drown them. However, Paikea called on the guardians of the sea to help him. A taniwha in the form of a whale was sent to take him to safety.
Why was Whale Rider a good movie?
The 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. There is a vast difference between movies for 12-year-old girls, and movies about 12-year-old girls, and “Whale Rider” proves it.
How is leadership shown in Whale Rider?
In Whale Rider, Pai has to fight to get recognition as a girl with potential to lead in an environment where men are the ones who become the leaders. She goes to extraordinary lengths to prove how much she loves her grandfather and how much she wants to succeed him as Chief.
What does the whale tooth necklace symbolize in the Whale Rider?
O The rei puta, or whale tooth, is a symbol of a leader’s status or position within the tribe. O The name, Paikea is both a reference to Pai’s ancestor and a symbol of her destiny to become a leader.
Is the whale rider based on a true story?
In such movies as Whale Rider, about a 12-year-old Maori girl who dreams of becoming her tribe’s first female chief, and North Country, based on the true story of the first class-action sexual harassment suit brought to trial, by a female miner in Minnesota, Caro explores themes of gender and power.
Is Whale Rider true story?
Who is Kahutia Te Rangi?
Kahutia-te-rangi was the sole survivor of his brother’s evildoing and assumed the name Paikea as a memorial of the assistance he received from the whale. In some versions, Kahutia-te-rangi himself transformed into the whale.
Who was Paikeas wife?
Paikea landed at Ahuahu, or Great Mercury Island. He is also said to have been carried to shore on the back of the great fish Ruamano. The names of Paikea’s wives were Ahurumowairaka (or Ahu-moa-i-raka), Te Mānawatina, and Hutu-rangi.
Is Paikea a boy or girl?
Paikea is the name assumed by Kahutia-te-rangi because he was assisted by a whale to survive an attempt on his life by his half-brother Ruatapu….
| Paikea | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Region | Polynesia |
| Ethnic group | Māori, Cook Islands Māori |
| Personal information |
How would you describe Paikea?
determined, wise, and sensitive. Paikea has an intrinsic connection with right whales, an important symbol for her tribe. She stands up for what she believes even in the face of the adults around her, and isn’t afraid to take risks to do what’s right.
How is Paikea a hero?
Paikea goes through many tests and trials to prove that she is worthy and able to be a leader and a chief. The trials, such as when she finds the whale tooth, her school concerts and when she wins a speech competition and delivers her speech in honor of her grandfather, mold her to become a true hero and leader.