In the old days, in the years that have gone before us, the land and sea felt a great emptiness. The whale rider by witi ihimaera, jay lagaaia, audiobook. In whale rider, the whale symbolizes life and death. Her twin, the hopedfor son and future chief, died at birth along with his mother. Jun 01, 2014 it is much more subtle, and although we see some of the same lessons as we see rawiri and his biker friends fight on the side of the elderly community members who try to save many beached whales, still the message is an undertone, and the final ending of the book is openended, and we know that now koro will let kahu be the female leader shes. Film is adapted from the novel whale rider first published 1987 by witi ihimaera. Although ultimately an upbeat movie, there are some grim plot elements that may not be. Whale rider mat no 10 storyboarding read the following excerpt from the book the whale rider. In every generation since kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief.
The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. The taniwha is the mythological whale or sea creature that paikea the ancestor rode on to lead the way to aeoteara new zealand originally. Directed and written by niki caro, the film is based on witi ihimaeras novel the whale rider. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to earn her grandfathers. The way paika respected her grandfather even when he said she was useless to him and the way the grandfather loved her but didnt show it often. Now, so many years after their separation, the nostalgia for their time spent together cuts away at the old bull whale. Whale rider set in the east coast town of whangara, whale rider tells the tale of a young maori girl, pai keisha castlehughes, who challenges tradition and embraces the past in order to find the strength to lead her people forward. I loved the tough love and respect between the grandpa and paika. The novel was set in whangara and it would almost have been heresy to shoot anywhere else. Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. The bull whale is leading his herd downward into the depths of the sea, and seven females closely flank him, singing for him out of happiness that he has rejoined them.
But when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the maori tribe, it is kahu who saves the tribe when she reveals that she has the whale rider s ancient gift of communicating with whales. If youve ever felt discriminated against because of your gender, this is the book for you. Though some of her family members deny the fact that she will not be qualified to run the people she still showed in multiple ways that she was qualified. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with. Similarly, the book is rather ordinary near the beginning, and the writing is too simple. To meet kahu fate of almost help her become the first woman whale rider. The influence of beliefs on individual life in witi ihimaeras. Whale rider in the move this touches on the culture and tradition of the maori people. In a small settlement of whangara located in new zealand, the locals believe their ancestral line come from the whale rider, paikea, the first person to have come to new zealand on the back of a whale. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of whale rider.
She dives down, is gone for ages, and returns with the stone and a. Pai is being raised by her loving grandparents, koro and nanny flowers rawiri paratene and vicky haughton. The new zealand film whale rider tells the story of 12year old pai, a maori girl whose ancestor paikea was the whale rider. Her grandfather koro apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Can someone give me a summary of the whale rider book. The world premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film festival. Only 120 pages long, its a richly layered story dealing with several major social issues. Blending legend with a reality thats both gritty and beautiful, this novel was made into a movie that was released in the united states just prior to the books publication here. The whale rider essays are academic essays for citation. The girl who plays pai is in my opinion the best though as she is absolutely believable in all her varied situations. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the whale rider by witi ihimaera. Many books have been made into movies, and they are often not at all faithful to the original, other than the name, and usually the names of the characters.
Finally, the whale rider script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the niki caro movie with keisha castlehughes. 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. It is much more subtle, and although we see some of the same lessons as we see rawiri and his biker friends fight on the side of the elderly community members who try to save many beached whales, still the message is an undertone, and the final ending of the book is openended, and we know that now koro will let kahu be the female leader shes. But now there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a successor. In a world gone machomad with endles, mindless revenge and gore, here is a gentle little film that praises self and cultural awareness and respect. In the first shot on the hill far behind him there are two people standing there, yet in the second shot they are gone. Ever since, the maori have been led by the descendants of that leader. The indie film whale rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. The films plot follows the story of paikea apirana pai. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. During the scene on the beach with the beached whales, right after paka has learned that it was his granddaughter that brought back the whales tooth, there are two shots of him from the same angle with one in between. Can someone compare the whale rider book and movie to me i.
This past saturday we saw niki caros whale rider, first broadcast in 2002 and set in beautiful new zealand. First things should be a little koro toes part become whale rider. The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. Ihimaera has written quite a long list of books and short stories but the whale rider is probably his most well known due to the 2002 film of the same name. Chapter 10 kahu is 4 years old, when rawiri decides it is time he leaves whangara. She rides it well out to sea, narrating that she has no fear of death. Jan 01, 1987 written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. Nanny flowers does not want him to go, but she accepts his decision after making him promise to return to whangara. Each group will sum up one paragraph and tell the class what they have understood. I know, i know, i still need to get the cast names in there and ill be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a. Jun 20, 2003 whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years.
The movie freedom riders by pbs and the book the struggle for black equality, 19541992 by harvard sitkoff introduction one of the most comprehensive dramatic documentaries that focused on the history of the civil rights movement is the film produced by pbs, entitled freedom riders. First published in 1987 in new zealandthe authors homeland as well as. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. Based on the novel of the same name by witi ihimaera, the film stars keisha. Given the controversy already surrounding the twisted conclusion in the. Eightyearold kahu, a member of the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. According to legend, the maori came to whangara when their great leader paikea led them by riding on a whale. This is the final scene of whale rider we see the celebration of the new leader paikea apirana. The whale rider is a 1987 novel by new zealander witi ihimaera. Whale rider can be enjoyed by adults, like myself, or with older children as well. Kahus dad plays a secondary role in the book, while in the film he is an important character. With keisha castlehughes, rawiri paratene, vicky haughton, cliff curtis. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates.
The whale in this context of whangara takes on the mythical origins of the taniwha but also serves as a lineage to. I absolutely adore everything about it, and really do think theres something everyone can relate to in this story. For three days kahu was gone and presumed dead, but then they found her unconscious floating in the ocean, with dolphins as her guards and kelp as her bed. The whale rider is definitely in my top ten list of alltime favorite books. Never has so many legs brushing in carriages been so thrilling. Whale rider is set in the maori community of new zealand. I am always on the lookout for films with positive messages, and especially when they give kids insights to another country or culture.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of whale rider by witi ihimaera. 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. Whale rider when talking about choosing the location to shoot whale rider, the films producer, john barnett says. The whale rider epilogue summary and analysis gradesaver. While pai lives in present day whangara, new zealand with her grandparents, maori tradition maintains that the leadership should only be inherited by males. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. Mark beauregard has written a delicious book of all the anticipations and exigencies of love. The chiefs eldest son, porourangi, fathers twins a boy and a girl. Nanny flowers does not want him to go, but she accepts his decision after making him promise to. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below. Pais mother died during childbirth and her artist father has left new zealand.
Whale rider jigsaw reading in groups, read the following extracts 1 to 6 from whale rider witi ihimaera, 1987. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Pai climbs on top of the largest beached whale and urges it back into the sea, presumably leading the other whales. At the end, the writer thoughtfully includes the maori legend in its original form.
While pai lives in present day whangara, new zealand with her grandparents, maori tradition maintains that the. The major focus of this narrative originally written by witi ihimaera is on a young maori girl named paikea played by the remarkable keisha castlehughes and her desire to be. Her father porourangi cliff curtis names her after paikea, the legendary whale rider who brought their people to new zealand eons ago. A love story is tale of metaphysical attraction so overpowering that it leaves in its wake, a path of destruction as it wantonly destroys the lives all around it. This post follows criteria, using the historical framework. Whale rider script transcript from the screenplay andor.
The novel is set in modern times and there are some references that link it into the late 1970s and early 1980s. Rawiri paratene and keisha castlehughes at an event for whale rider 2002 niki caro at. This film actually tried to depict the civil rights movement. It also represents a myth of the maori people about a man named paikea meaning humpback whale who is and ancestor of a tribe in the south island. The chiefs, koro, hopes of finding a new leader disappears as his only grandchild turns out to be a girl, pai.
The movie begins with the birth of twins, the latest in that line. If youve ever felt discriminated against because of. 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. The first greatgrandchild of the whanau, she was loved by all her relatives except the one whose love she needed mosther greatgrandfather. Koro is sure this catastrophe signals an apocalyptic end to his tribe. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to. Obviously, this post includes many spoilers about the gone girl movie and book. The movie left in a happy ending with her dad and new girlfriend all together. In a small new zealand coastal village, maori claim descent from paikea, the whale rider. Paikea keisha castlehughes is the only surviving child of a chiefs son. There are physical things that are described in the book the sweep of the bay, the island that looks.
May 01, 2003 the whale rider is definitely in my top ten list of alltime favorite books. 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. Third, kahu meet her fate be the the next whale rider bite her greatgrandfather is the important part. However, in the next scene her family is waiting for her to wake up in the hospital and her grandfather has finally gained respect for her. Written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book.
Tradition as a tool for oppressing women in witi ihimaeras the whale rider. Only kahu understands that she is the whale rider, and that she must guide the whales back to the safety of the sea. Everyone plays their part in an excellent and believable way. Pai, is the main character and heroine of the film. The epilogue begins focusing again on the whale herd, this time though in present times.
In such movies as whale rider, about a 12yearold maori girl who dreams of becoming her tribes first female chief, and north country, based on the. Kahu is his only greatgrandchildand maori tradition has no use for a girl. Coupling a specific sense of place and culture with a. Ancestor of the people of te tai rawhiti, he travelled from hawaiki, the place of the ancients, to the east coast of new zealand. Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page. Setting whale rider whale rider is set in a small village called whangara, on the east coast of the north island of new zealand. In every generation for over 1,000 years, a male heir born to the chief succeeds to the title. Now available in simultaneous hardcover and paperback. 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. Unfortunately her twin brother, who was supposed to be the chief of her village, died at birth and her grandfather did not want her because of her being a girl.
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