For example paikeas grammo gives koro back the shell. Analysis of the whale rider essay example graduateway. Jun 10, 2011 kahu is the protagonist in the book the whale rider. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the whale rider by witi ihimaera. The film is based on the book the whale rider by witi ihimaera. My first choice is a scene from 2002s whale rider, a lovely film about a young girls struggle to break out of patriarchal bonds in a maori tribe in new zealand. The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. See our topranked characters and read their profiles. Will koro and the people approve of paikea or will all the traditions of the maori people be forgotten. Koro is one of the minor characters in the whale rider. The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. In maori legend, the father arrives on the humpback of a whale to give life to the. Written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book.
It explores themes of duty, culture and tradition through the eyes of paikea apirana. Because of this, he did not believe that paikea, a female, was a good fit for being tribe leader. I know, i know, i still need to get the cast names in there and ill be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a. Whale rider analysis for the film whale rider there were definitely multiple events where the director and producer did a great job of producing a cultural aesthetic in the film.
The film, based on essentially a struggle of a young girl to fit into what her perceived role in her life is one example in itself of a cultural aesthetic they. Tradition as a tool for oppressing women in witi ihimaeras the whale rider. The film whale rider by niki caro on the concept of proving yourself. Take charactours quiz to get recommendations for thousands of characters, movies, tv shows, books, and games that are high matches for your unique personality. Although it ended well for her, she did have a tragic flaw,which was her stubbornness, led to her grandfather realizing that she could do just what the boys could and more. The whale, in turn, was saved from death and loss of meaning in the modern world. Read the following excerpt from the book the whale rider. The whale rider is a story about a maori girl named kahu, who dreams of being. Who is paikea, and how is he important to the maori people. The strings of the ancient ancestors have been ripped apart and only paikea can weave them back together. Paikea called for the whales and the ancient gods answered her. The main themes of whale rider, a drama film directed by niki caro. The whale rider is a 1987 novel by new zealander witi ihimaera. Paikea is a small girl that is years old, and is a direct descendant of paikea, the original whale rider.
Pia is the tragic hero in the whale rider because she was stubborn and wouldnt listen to her grandfather. She is a bright buttoneyed girl with shining skin and the youngest member of the maori tribe. In the film whale rider, what is the significance of the main. It has been nominated for many prestigious awards including best actress.
Viewers are introduced to different characters throughout the movie, who have different opinions. This carving of paikea, the whale rider, was made by the wellknown east coast carver pine taiapa. To see where whangara is located and to find out more about new zealand, go to. Kahu is the protagonist in the book the whale rider.
The books narrator, kahus uncle rawiri, then explains that the tribes first. Paikea is the name assumed by kahutiaterangi because he was assisted by a whale to survive an attempt on his life by his halfbrother ruatapu on the island of aitutaki, he is also. Finally, the whale rider script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the niki caro movie with keisha castlehughes. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis of. Nov, 20 pia is the tragic hero in the whale rider because she was stubborn and wouldnt listen to her grandfather.
Whale rider mat no 2 character development choose one of the five main characters paikea, koro, nanny flowers, porourangi, rawiri and trace hisher development throughout the film. Both the quiz and worksheet can be used with the lesson at any time during. Many of the films background cast and extras are locals who are familiar with the paikea legend from a firsthand perspective. He was really sent on a mission as a spy by m16, the british intelligence. Whale rider is told in the context of a maori tribe in modern new zealand. Koro, who is the chief of the maori tribe, is the other important character of the film. Whale rider analysis most heroes are big strong men, or mythical creatures that have thousands of stories and tales written about them. New zealands whale rider, directed by niki caro and released in 2002, details the journey of a young maori girl, paikea, as she struggles to break free of the restricting bonds of tradition, and fulfill her destiny as tribal leader. Eventually some whales are beached on the sand outside the village and the village people cannot save them but pai rides the biggest whale to safety and all the other whales follow her. This film combines elements of history, traditions, depicting them from the point of view of a child, that sees the world not in black and white terms. Her grandfather koro apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Ruatapu is already angry because kahutiaterangi is of a higher status than him kahutiaterangis mother was of noble birth, while ruatapus mother was a slave. Her father porourangi cliff curtis names her after paikea, the legendary whale rider who brought their people to new zealand eons ago. The whale rider the films plot follows the story of paikea apirana paiin 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.
An analysis of the culture and traditions of the maori people in the film whale rider. The character of koro in the whale rider 639 words. The story begins with kahutiaterangis halfbrother, ruatapu. An example of this is when nanny flowers tries to explain to koro that paikea is the leader but koro refuses to listen because it is not what he wants to hear. It sits at the roof apex of whitireia marae, built at the tiny east coast community of whangara in 1937.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of whale rider by witi ihimaera. Maori mythology and the legend of paikea brave new world. Set on the east coast of new zealand, the whangara people believe their presence there dates back one thousand years or more to a single ancestor, paikea, who escaped. Pai main character young girl porourangi pais father koro pais grandfather, the village chief nanny flowers pais grandmother rawiri pais uncle hemi young boy in the village 1. The girl, paikea, survived as a baby while her twin brother died and as a result has broken the lineage that was supposed to result in a male savior for her people. It saves her from the patriarchal system and shows koro she is the leader.
Brush up on the story of whale rider in this quiz and worksheet. Whale rider is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of witi ihimaera, and. Finally at the end of the film whale rider koro had realized that pai is the true leader, to face this koro had to travel an inner journey to accept that the tradition had changed. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with. Like sad because she is the new whale rider and koro use to be mean to her. In a small settlement of whangara located in new zealand, the locals believe their ancestral line come from the whale rider, paikea, the first person to have come to new zealand on the back of a whale. Feb 26, 2012 whale rider analysis for the film whale rider there were definitely multiple events where the director and producer did a great job of producing a cultural aesthetic in the film. The whale rider together with yavaraj athur raghuvir i watched the movie called the whale rider which deals with the issue of cultural restrains both as an individual and as a society. Although it ended well for her, she did have a tragic flaw,which was her stubbornness, led to her grandfather realizing that she could do. Pai, is the main character and heroine of the film. Her father, porourangi, and koro convinced nanny flowers that this was a good idea. Use the table below as a guideline for your answers.
Writerdirector niki caros whale rider is the closest thing to discovering a vibrant new cinematic voice that ive seen in years. Whale rider is a film that takes place in a small new zealand costal village. Centered around 11yearold paikea apirana and her small maori village on the coast of new zealand, the characters from this film face issues within their culture, which is troubled with the transition from. Whale rider essaysthe film whale rider by niki caro, is a popular film highly rated among many critics across the globe. The movie tells the story of a young girl, pai, and her grandfather karo who must struggle with adapting a patriarchal maori legend with the pais seeming affinity with sacred traditions. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. The whale rider is definitely in my top ten list of alltime favorite books. Te kaieke tohora is a 2002 film based on the book the whale rider by witi ihimaera. Her twin brother died in childbirth and she is set aside as an outcast. Whale rider is a film about indigenous people and the struggles that they can face to preserve their traditional way of life. Paikea s journey allowed her to fufill her destiny and transcend her obstacles through a legend tripping form narrative. The book starts out with alex rider, a 14 year old boy returning to school after three weeks of being sick.
Her twin, the hopedfor son and future chief, died at birth along with his mother. Set on the east coast of new zealand, the whangara people believe their presence there dates back one tho. It is leading its herd in search of safer waters, but at the same time it struggles to come to terms with its deep love for the ancient whale rider, now long dead, who once had been its dearest companion. In the room when they are both alone, pai is unconscious when koro says to her wise leader this shows that koro has faced the facts that pai is the born leader. Paikea is the name assumed by kahutiaterangi because he was assisted by a whale to survive an attempt on his life by his halfbrother ruatapu. The taniwha serves as the last test for paikea in the film. The film whale rider by niki caro, is a popular film highly rated among many critics across the globe. 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. She is willing to sacrifice her own life to protect and continue her community and familys traditions and beliefs. In the story of whale rider it is essential that koro and the town accept paikea as the true leader. She is the protagonist in this film and narrates sections too. The whale rider essays are academic essays for citation. This hero is an unlikely one, a small girl, from a small tribe, in a small village in new zealand.
Characterization of kahu simon schug e2thewhalerider. The whale rider 2002 film community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical. Paikea, koro, nanny flowers, porourangi, rawiri and trace hisher. In the journey, one sees perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles. Rider 2002 film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of whale rider. Paikea is a notable ancestor who originated in hawaiki according to maori tradition. Niki caro based on the book by witi ihimaera prezi by. Her parents are porourangi and rehua, because kahus mom died three months after her birth. The story is based on the maori claim that they are descendants from paikea, the whale rider. In whale rider the main example of sacrificial love is seen through paikeas self sacrifice for her community and traditions. Its an enchanting fable about how modern sensibilities have the potential to both trivialize and rejuvenate the customs of old, but caro maintains a direct focus on her characters and.
Jun 18, 2007 paikea gets on the leader whale and kicks it and it starts moving and koro stays quit. The chiefs, koro, hopes of finding a new leader disappears as his only grandchild turns out to be a girl, pai. In a small new zealand coastal village, maori claim descent from paikea, the whale rider. The movie opens with a young lady giving birth to twins. The author has uses koros actions and other aspects that are related to the character to help us understand the character in more depth. Because the other kids did not get the shell and koro was sad. The first thing that struck me about the book was that its narrator is rawiri, kahus uncle. Only 120 pages long, its a richly layered story dealing with several major social issues. Character analysis of koro from the film whale rider by. Similar to many other religious figures who were misunderstood or mistreated, she overcomes obstacles eventually whether they be mentally.
He is particularly known to tribes with origins in the gisborne district such as ngati porou, and ngai tahu. Leadership styles observed in whale rider dannette allen. Whale rider analysis by katherine and jana examples from the text. It is about the struggles of a maori girl, paikea, to succeed her grandfather as leader of her tribe in spite of tradition dictating that the chief be male. 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. Shows her leadership incredible events birth of destined one, calling whales, whale response, riding the whale symbolicmagical objects associated with the hero, her quest and the culture she comes from.
In 1987 ihimaera wrote the novel the whale rider which was turned into a movie in. Although this is not specifically a film about indigenous health, it starkly portrays the sort of unglamorous social and cultural conditions that are likely to take their toll on health, and commonly do in indigenous communities around the world. From the beginning, paikea, or pai, is a young girl in a mans world. Paikea or pai a young girl and the central character in the film. Its the legend of kahutiaterangi, also known as paikea. She shows her emotions on her sleeve by seeking the future she desperately wants and her love of her community. If youve ever felt discriminated against because of your gender, this is the book for you. The influence of beliefs on individual life in witi ihimaeras. The second thing that struck me is that the girl called paikea in the film the protagonist is in the book called kahu, in full kahutia te rangi. Paikea gets on the leader whale and kicks it and it starts moving and koro stays quit. Whale rider is a contemporary retelling of the yearold legend about legendary first ancestor named paikea. My name is paikea apirana and i come from a long line of chiefs, stretching all the way back to the whale rider. I absolutely adore everything about it, and really do think theres something everyone can relate to in this story. Paikea keisha castlehughes is the only surviving child of a chiefs son.
The story takes place in new zealand where the maori people of a small village claim descent from the whale rider, paikea. Whale rider script transcript from the screenplay andor. Paikea tries to learn the things the boys are learning in secret and is taught by her uncle. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its back. Can someone compare the whale rider book and movie to me i. The whale rider epilogue summary and analysis gradesaver. Originally her father had planned to name his son after paikea. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. In every generation for more than one thousand years, a male heir born to the chief succeeds to the title. By tradition, the leader should be the firstborn son a direct patrilineal.
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