Whale Rider

Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Cliff Curtis
Director: Niki Caro
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG
Running Time: 97 minutes

Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfil her destiny.

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. When twins are born, and the boy twin dies, Koro, the chief is unable to accept his grand-daughter, Pai, as a future leader. Koro is convinced that the tribe's misfortunes began at Pai's birth and calls for his people to bring their sons to him, sure a new leader will be revealed. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfil her destiny.

When whales become stranded on the beach, Koro is sure this signals an apocalyptic end to his tribe. Until one person prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the people. The Whale Rider. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young girl fights to fulfil her destiny, WHALE RIDER is directed by Niki Caro who adapted it for the screen from the novel by award winning New Zealand writer Witi Ihimaera. Based on the novel by Witi Ihimaera. A film by Niki Caro.

Whale Rider has achieved recognition and acclaim around the world winning the following awards:
2003 Lake Placid Film Festival Audience Award,
2003 Maui International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Dramatic Feature,
2003 Seattle International Film Festival Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film,
2003 Seattle International Film Festival Golden Space Needle Award for Best Director,
2003 San Francisco Film Festival, VirginMega Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature,
2003 Rotterdam Film Festival, Canal+ Audience Award,
2003 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Audience Award,
2002 Toronto International Film Festival AGF People's Choice Award,
2002 San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Special Features:Deleted Scenes
Behind The Scenes

Te Waka - Building The Canoe
Keisha Castle-Hughes Audition
Trailers
Photo Gallery
Audio: Director's Commentary With Niki Caro
DVD Rom - Knitting Pattern 'Inspired By A Kete', Designer Margaret Lewis

Review:
An interesting tale basic on New Zealand Maori legend. The whale rider lead his people to safety. When tradition is broken and no male heir can fulfill the destiny of 'whale rider', Koro (a traditionalist to a fault & Pai's grandfather) is finally made to face the signals that he so desperately tries to ignore.

Don't miss out on the special features as they are definitely worth a look in.