In the film whale rider depicts a culture in transition. An analysis of the culture and traditions of the maori. The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. The whale rider novel appears somehow like a modern tale. Facing tradition and her grandfather koro, she tests gender norms and conventional ways of living. The whale rider is set in whangara on the east coast of new zealand, where paikea is the founding ancestor. Eightyearold kahu, an individual from the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand, battles to demonstrate her affection, her authority, and her fate. In the 2002 film, whale rider, the director, niki caro created a magnificently empowering movie that serves as an inspirational tool for. Whale rider is a contemporary retelling of the yearold legend about legendary first ancestor named paikea. When she goes out to sea, nanny flowers shows koro the whale tooth which pai had previously recovered. The two main characters of each story share one major characteristic in common.
The story begins with a focus on the ancient days, when nature and all wildlife were excitedly waiting for the coming of man. The whale rider summary for each chapter essay example. Whale rider mat no 10 storyboarding read the following excerpt from the book the whale rider. Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the whale rider by witi ihimaera. Ann mcclellans global literature class at plymouth state university. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below. Its fixation on myths indigenous to new zealand lends a bizarre, ethereal otherworldliness. It won the audience awards as the most popular film at both the toronto and sundance film festivals, played to standing ovations, left audiences in tears.
The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its back. Whale rider, a film written and directed by niki caro, explores the journey of a young girl paikea and her struggles as she fights for her rightful place as chief. By tradition, the leader should be the firstborn son a direct patrilineal. Chapter 2 gives us the point of view of the whales. This whale rider gives skewers a role as nurturing items to the islands, however one lance he throws years into the future, which is the season of the storys young champion kahu. If i was in english class, id write a long descript essay into the characters and the morals etc. The leader bull whale is nostalgic and is thinking about the past, when he was young, his times with the whale rider. The film gained much respect from critics, it went on in film festivals such as sundance and tribecca, and gained international recognition. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis. The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long.
An analysis of witi ihimaeras whale rider free essay example. While koro is desperate about not having a male grandchild he starts to look for a male successor amongst his tribe, unaware that kahu has the aptitudes which a chief requires. The revered figure of whangaras maori people and kahus direct ancestor, the whale rider develops an extremely close bond with a whale. Character analysis of koro from the film whale rider by niki caro. 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. Whale rider tells the story of pai, who faces the subtle resentment of her grandfather koro as he attempts to reestablish the old traditions of their ancestors. Until the time came when man turned on the beast which had been a companion to him, and the whale killing began pg 44 9. The whale rider, written and directed in 2002 by niki caro, is a drama that proves that the ones who are least likely to succeed often do. And its characters speak in maori almost as much as they do in english. 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. The bull whale remembers his master, the golden man. Analysis of the maori culture and traditions in whale rider. Whale rider summary 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. Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page.
My name is paikea apirana, and i come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. Analysis of the maori culture and traditions in whale rider every culture has its own traditions and many of the times these traditions are broken when new generations are born. The story is about a young maori girl called kahu who is the granddaughter of koro apirana, chief of. The two narratives, the whales and kahus birth, are told by an omniscient and firstperson narrator respectively. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis of. For rawiri, nanny flowers, and even kahu herself, it is for the end of kahus childhood and for the answers to be revealed. Based on witi ihimaeras novel of the same name, niki caros whale rider is a moving depiction of a young maori girl battling to overturn the patriarchal traditions of her ngati konohi tribal community. Analysis of the whale rider essay example graduateway. The whale rider abstract whale rider is a episode film of the 2002, predicated on the book of witi ihimaera, and directed by niki caro.
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. However, pai is female and technically cannot inherit the leadership. The first thing that struck me about the book was that its narrator is rawiri, kahus uncle. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis of postcolonial theory by nancy reinhardt author 2. Whale rider critical analysis claire choy 100809178. Kahu is the protagonist in the book the whale rider.
Do you think that the whale is as old as the myth, or do you think that the whale draws on the collective memory of his culture. Different styles of narration that infuse the whale rider. Witi ihimaeras the whale rider is one of those rare books that is so pure and so moving that it makes you believe anything is possible. The maori, the native polynesian people of new zealand, are looking for a male descendant of paikea the brave leader. After the narrative shifts to contemporary times, readers learn that this whale rider was kahutia te rangi, founder of the maori tribe whose chief. Her parents are porourangi and rehua, because kahus mom died three months after her birth. 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. Different styles of narration that infuse the whale rider with life witi ihimaeras novel, the whale rider, is unique as it has twin plots running side by side. Whale rider tells the tale of kahu and her familys struggle to bring balance back to their maori tribe. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. Her grandfather koro apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Niki caro based on the book by witi ihimaera prezi by. Can someone compare the whale rider book and movie to me i. The story takes place in new zealand where the maori people of a small village claim descent from the whale rider, paikea.
My twin brother died, and took our mother with him. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera. By tradition, the leader should be the firstborn son a. The movie was made with a huge budget of millions of dollars. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. After this, a similarly structured analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider will be pursued. By tradition, the leader should be the firstborn son a direct patrilineal descendant of paikea, aka kahutia te rangi in the book, the whale rider he who rode on top of a whale from hawaiki. The whales are travelling in the ocean, and they are far away from newzeland.
What does the myth of the whale rider explain to the maori people. This video fits the requirement for the whale rider video analysis of dr. 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. The story is about a young maori girl called kahu who is the granddaughter of koro apirana, chief of a maori tribe. Every culture has its own traditions and many of the times these traditions are broken when new generations are born.
Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. The whale rider 2003 read online free book by witi. The whale rider is a story about a maori girl named kahu, who dreams of being the chief of her tribe. These two share many common themes such as sexism, discrimination, and loss. The whale rider was a book i was quite drawn to, as i am a kiwi, and i love new zealand. Since whale rider is set in new zealand and the story is about a maori tribe, a lot of the words used are traditional maori words, making it a little tricky to follow along. Then man arrived from the east, and the relationship between nature and man throve. The movie whale rider, directed by niki caro, have many things in common with the book nervous conditions, written in 2002 by tsitsi dangarembga. The book won the new zealand booksellers choice award. The books narrator, kahus uncle rawiri, then explains that the tribes first chief and ancestor, kahutia te rangi, who is also called paikea, came to their land on. Assumptions about the right path or choice in life are always thrown into question because life has a way of throwing you a curveball. It also proved to be a hit and won the critical acclaim.
Character analysis of koro from the film whale rider by. Whale rider is a great example of the problems that many cultures and families are facing around the world. This novel unfolds the history of the maori tribe that by tradition the new chief would be the first born son directly descended from their ancient ancestor paikea. Tradition as a tool for oppressing women in witi ihimaeras the whale rider the influence of beliefs on individual life in witi ihimaeras the whale rider. 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. 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.
This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. The main social issue that is brought up by the film is the function of the woman in a world controlled mostly by men. Rawiri takes kahu to a movie, which turns out to be a movie on the hunting of whales in antarctica. Whale rider carries itself primarily on motivation towards the end. She is a young girl with a strong and determined temperament and a soft and innocent heart.
The whale rider abstract whale rider is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of witi ihimaera, and directed by niki caro. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis assignment. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. First published in 1987 in new zealandthe authors homeland as well as.