Post by StevePulaski on Mar 8, 2019 15:43:07 GMT -5
Whale Rider (2002)
Directed by: Niki Caro
Directed by: Niki Caro
Keisha Castle-Hughes.
Rating: ★★★
Set in New Zealand, Whale Rider begins with the birth of a twin brother and sister. The boy and the mother die during birth, leaving only the girl, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), to be raised by her father, Porourangi (Cliff Curtis), who promptly leaves to pursue his artistic dreams. Pai is left with her grandparents, Koro and Nanny Flowers (Rawiri Paratene and Vicky Haughton), who raise her with unconditional love in hopes of giving the young girl some semblance of hope and normalcy.
The family lineage was supposed to be passed down from Chief Koro to Porourangi, but because he has no interest in returning to his own land, Pai harbors the belief that she could be chief some day. Koro loves his granddaughter, but condemns the idea, remaining mystified and subtly fearful of the idea that a woman could assume the role of a traditionally patriarchal role in a traditionalist society. But like most change, it's a slow and gradual one. Pai isn't discouraged by her grandfather's doubt in her, no matter how fierce and upsetting it so often is. Overtime, Koro realizes it too; he sees the native people in need of a new voice, but still can't get past the idea that his granddaughter could, nor even should, assume his sacred title.
Directed by Niki Caro, who would later go on to direct the extremely effective, union-drama North Country, working off of a novel by Witi Ihimaera, Whale Rider is a soft-spoken parable on the ways cultures shift and people overcome adversity. It's not an overnight change, and there's often insurmountable pressures and insecurities that plague a person's psyche, even when they're confidently trying to pursue their dreams. Pai gradually proves herself to her community, but like her grandfather, their realization doesn't come overnight as much as it does in small but impacting ways. When she learns about the whale crisis in her community, where several whales are beached near her home, she doesn't go about finding a solution to the problem thinking it'll bring her acceptance. She does it because she feels compelled to do so, and that's the kind of nobility in her heart that was instilled by her grandparents.
Caro's adaptation is an inspiring story, fueled by great performances across generations. Keisha Castle-Hughes gives a gentle lead performance in a movie that proves child actors aren't alike, and more should be given thoughtful scripts like the one Caro has given her. In addition, Rawiri Paratene is also worthy of praise, thanks to his ability to convey both sides of Koro: the strong, leader-like quality that makes him a renowned force in his home and the softer side that makes Pai lean on him, even when he is at his most rigid.
At the same time, Whale Rider is a fairly predictable story that's told in a mostly linear fashion. For me, there was little surprise in the narrative, and while that doesn't diminish the heft of the narrative, it ultimately makes a film that's more compelling to discuss than it is to experience. The dramatic moments are handled with quiet reservation, and the moments of triumph are scored with brazen orchestration. It's not enough to manipulate you emotionally, but it makes you realize there isn't a great deal of imagination afforded to the story. Its criticism of this New Zealand community's patriarchal society is only skin-deep, as well. Caro could've went deeper by taking a harsher look at the archaic dynamics that prevent someone like Pai, who, despite her obvious qualifications, is still looked at with unease whenever the idea of her becoming the next chief is proposed.
Whale Rider's story is now more significant than ever thanks to its representation and its ability to inspire those who watch it. It deals with something fewer and fewer American movies even examine and that's the visibility of Pacific Islanders outside of being a bubble to be filled on in a government form. By giving audiences a story about a far-away place for most of us, with characters that rise above the constructs of stereotypes and inessential supporting performances, Caro gifts us a movie that can motivate as much as entertain, and she doesn't miss the opportunity to do both, often simultaneously.
Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, and Cliff Curtis. Directed by: Niki Caro.