Whale Rider

Whale Rider (2002) – Movie Review

Director: Niki Caro

Screenwriter: Niki Caro

Based on the book by: Witi Ihimaera

Producers: John Barnett, Frank Hubner, Tim Sanders

Studio: New Zealand Film Commission

Production Companies: South Pacific Pictures, Apollomedia, Pandora Filmproducktion

Top Billed Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa

LOGLINE: A powerful, spiritual young Maori girl struggles to earn her grandfather-guardian's love and respect after her birth (being a woman) broke the line of chiefs that went all the way back to the begining. 

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At home, in a single sitting, in my loungeroom with my wife, on a weekend. Part of the New Zealand film fest we're havign in honour of the Rugby World Cup in NZ this month.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Wowsers. I'm usually more of an action/comedy/eipc/anything-but-drama kind of guy but this movie, which is pretty much pure drama rocked me! I do have a soft sport for the Haka, even though I'm an Aussie and the Kiwis are are natural enemy, there is a certain level of respect. Without trying to sound condescending, NZ is like Australia's little brother and when they do something kind we (or at least I) feel kinda proud of them. Well in the film and music realms anyway - not in rugby, and certainly not when it's against us!

But there sure are some great films coming out of the little island nation at the moment, Lord of the Rings (my favourite/the greatest film ever), Flight of the Conchords, Eagle vs Shark, Boy and others I'm sure that I haven't sen yet (what's Jane Campion up to? She must have one out...)

STORY: Powerful, heart renching stuff - yes I know, I'm the backwards hat film reviewer, I'm supposed to be cool and into 'regular' (i.e. vacuous) films, but I'm aloud to have a couple of dramas that I did, and besides there are only so many 'regular' films one can watch before you have to turn to other stuff not only to because you're mind might explode from numbness but also because you just ran out of films to watch. Anyway the point is this is a great story. It follows along the mythological pattern of the monomyth/hero's journey pretty strongly, what with the her being of coming-of-age age and quasi-orphaned etc. But it does it really well.

PRODUCTION: Fairly low key, but that was all that was required.

PERFORMANCE: Knock-your-socks-off good, espeically from the twelve year old Keisha Castle-Hughes but really all round. How did they not all win Oscars for their respective roles?

OVERALL: A beauty. Pretty full on, high ups and low downs (but not to messed up). Overall a great flick.

MEETSLINE: The Bible etc meets Maori culture.

FAVOURITE QUOTE: "My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. I'm not a prophet, but I know that our people will keep going forward, all together, with all of their strength."

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Pawa

RATING:

4 1/2 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011