W Dear Rocky - Whale Rider

Dear Rocky,

I cannot believe I hadn't seen this film until tonight!  I remember the energy surrounding it at the Oscars when it was released and the gorgeous Maori actress, Keisha Castle Hughes who was nominated for the best actress Oscar and now I understand why.

This is a life changing movie and I want to shout it from the rooftops that everyone must see it.  Films from NZ often are......

There are major relationships in this film but the two I want to focus on are the ones between Pai and her grandfather Koro and of course the connection with her ancestors.

The opening lines narrated by Pai tell us everything we need to know:

Paikea: In the old days, the land felt a great emptiness. It was waiting. Waiting to be filled up. Waiting for someone to love it. Waiting for a leader.
[child birth scene]
Paikea: And he came on the back of a whale. A man to lead a new people. Our ancestor, Paikea. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. For the boy who would be chief.
Paikea: There was no gladness when I was born. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him.

There was no gladness, because Pai was a girl.  I thought for sure that Koro had accepted her fully and would invite her into his school to train a new chief but he didn't, right up until the point that she rode the whale.

Pai never gave up.  She always understood her connection to her ancestors.  The traditions in this film are educational and inspirational.

I've seen the haka many times and each and every time have been chilled to the bone - I love it.  This is the same multiplied by infinity.

I give this film 10/10 and I urge everyone to see it if you haven't already.

Great choice Rocky!

Jodie

Read Rocky's review here!