Whale Rider
Synopsis
The story of a young girl who struggles to claim her rightful place as the spiritual leader of a people seeking to find a viable existence in the modern world. A beautifully filmed account of both contemporary Maori life and its rich mythology, as Pai (Castle-Hughes is phenomenal in the central role) tries to assume her destiny by fighting a thousand years of tradition. This is an inspiring work by both writer-director Niki Caro and his acclaimed cinematographer Leon Narbey that has attracted huge audiences around the world (Audience Award at Sundance, Manila, Rotterdam, Seattle, San Francisco and Toronto Festivals).
Critics
“Fresh, observant, tough, and genuinely moving”