Synopsis

 

“The best film of the year is called Whale Rider, and it is, quite simply, what film was invented for.  It iscinema at its funniest and most heart-breaking.”
- Ain’t It Cool News.com

“Enchanting Whale Rider spins tough-minded gold out of everyday magic.”
- Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal

“Be on the lookout for this one.  There’s magic in it. […] Worth cheering for.”
- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

“This is a wonderful, enchanting, magical film.[Roger Ebert] […]
- Two thumbs up for Whale Rider [Richard Roeper]” Ebert & Roeper

 

A magical and deeply moving story of a young girl's struggle to fulfil her destiny, Whale Rider is an award-winning film from New Zealand filmmaker Niki Caro.
 
In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. In every generation, a male heir has succeeded to the chiefly title. The time is now. When twins are born, and the boy twin dies, Koro, the chief, is unable to accept his grand-daughter, Pai, as a future leader.
 
A few years later, Koro is convinced that the tribe's misfortunes began at Pai's birth and calls for his people to bring their sons to him, in the hope that the new leader is among them. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must stand up to him and a thousand years of tradition to reveal the true way forward.

AGF PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD - TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL 2002
WORLD CINEMA AUDIENCE AWARD - SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2003
CANAL+ AUDIENCE AWARD - ROTTERDAM FILM FESTIVAL 2003
BEST DIRECTOR & AUDIENCE AWARD - SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL 2003
AUDIENCE AWARD - SAN FRANCISCO FILM FESTIVAL 2003
AUDIENCE AWARD - MAUI FILM FESTIVAL 2003

Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis 
Written and Directed by: Niki Caro 
Produced by: Tim Sanders, John Barnett, Frank Hübner 
Casting: Diana Rowan 
Production Designer: Grant Major  
Director of Photography: Leon Narbey 
Costume Designer: Kirsty Cameron  
Editor: David Coulson  
Music: Lisa Gerrard 
Associate Producer: Witi Ihimaera 
Co-Producer: Reinhard Brundig 
Executive Producers: Bill Gavin, Linda Goldstein Knowlton 

http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com/
http://iconmovies.co.uk/whalerider/