Whale Rider (2003) Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Whale Rider (2003) |
| Director | Niki Caro |
| Screenplay Writer | Niki Caro |
| Based on Novel by | Witi Ihimaera (Whale Rider) |
| Lead Actors | Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene |
| Cast | Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa |
| Genre | Drama, Family |
| Release Date | January 30, 2003 (Sundance Film Festival) |
| Duration | 1h 41m (101 minutes) |
| Budget | ~$9 million |
| Language | English, Māori |
| Country | New Zealand, Germany |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | ~$41.6 million |
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Summary
Classic coming of age story. Against the odds and fighting age old traditions. A young Maori (Located off the New Zealand coast) girl fulfills her destiny despite the apprehensions of her controlling and chauvinistic grandfather.
Review
I was expecting a lot more from this film. There was a lot of hype that preceded my viewing. I kept waiting for the film itself to make that turn. Unfortunately the turn never came.
It seems that folks love a good old-fashioned story that affirms some longing to escape the realities of everyday life. Whale Rider attempts to inspire the viewer by suggesting that conformity and doing the do are not always the keys to happiness.
Keisha Castle Hughes plays a young girl who attempts to escape the confines of a male dominated society that wants to relegate her to the kitchen. In the end she is released from the chains that have bound her and realizes her life long destiny to become chief of her tribe. It is the classice good-feel tale that is supposed to force the movie-goer to think and to be inspired. Certainly this was the intended effect on the crunchies who attend Sundance where it was released in the US. In the end there is way too much cliche. Ultimately the film becomes sappy.
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