Paikea does not want to be bound by these tales on the contrary, she wants them to set her free to write her own stories. She does not want to be cast-off to one side simply because of what was written before, the stories that have ignited her passion for her ancestors is not the law to her, it is an inspiration. Paikea wants nothing more than to be accepted, by her father, by her grandfather, and by her culture as a whole. Her grace and spirituality belie her young age. She is clearly every bit as smart as she is strong. Paikea’s journey is a perfect example of this. ![]() It shows us that even is these marginalized cultures that there is an, even more, marginalize people within its own ranks. The reaction to Paikea’s birth is, unfortunately, a sad indictment of male-dominated tribal communities. He doesn’t see his granddaughter as the gift she is instead, he views her as a representation of not just his son’s failings but his own failings also. Koro sees this as the breaking of a chain that goes as far back as the original whale riders. The future I speak of is the little girl of the story Paikea, who has been scorned from birth for nothing more than the fact that she was not born a boy. It too will soon be the past and has to be allowed its opportunity to take its rightful place in the lineage of all the other tales of their people. The future needs a little wiggle room if it too is to become part of the fabric of a people. What I mean by that is if you hold too tightly on what came before then you might not be willing to loosen your grip to make room for what is yet to come. Koro (Rawiri Paratene) teaching tribal rituals to the young MaoriĮven though Koro’s role in the community is without question and the importance of his teachings is so necessary for the young to remember their roots, some negatives come from holding onto a doctrine from another time. Koro is so important to his people it is the elders like him that will keep the traditions and customs alive. It is this dedication that fuels him, and it has made it his life’s work to pass on the knowledge to the next generation. Koro is a traditionalist his dedication to maintaining the cultural heritage of his people is his defining quality. ![]() ![]() His mission is to find the next Chieftan, to rekindle that warrior spirit in the youth of their people. Koro, the leader of the clan longs for the days of old-he wants nothing more than to bring some pride back into their village. ![]() The elders like Koro (Rawiri Paratene) wanted to feel one with nature again just like their forefathers who braved the turbulent seas to make their way to their homeland. They long for times gone by, yearning so much to be like the heroes from their stories. This is the reason for the backward thinking of the elders of the Maori people in this little town. The way Whale Rider interweaves the epic tales of the character’s ancestors with the humble, almost run-down nature of their current environment is excellently done. Whale Rider is just a beautifully told, intimate story about family, legacy, and the aforementioned little girl who wants nothing more than to please her grandfather and continue the family line of Chieftans that she derives from. There are so many elements of the tale of a little girl trying to find her place in the world that I had forgotten about. It had been a long time since I had last watched Whale Rider, the incredible drama from New Zealand that is based on the Witi Ihimaera’s novel of the same name.
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