Whale Rider (2003)

On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.

Genres

Drama

Family

Whale Rider (2003) 7.4 PG-13

On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.

Genres

Drama

Family

Top Billed Cast

Keisha Castle-Hughes
Rawiri Paratene
Vicky Haughton
Cliff Curtis
Grant Roa

Director

Niki Caro

Screenplay

Niki Caro

In the ways of the ancients she found a hope for the future.

Is this DVD available?

Library	Call Number	Availability	Location
Law	KLAUS DVD #142	Available	Klaus Reading Room

Whale Rider

Alternative Title	Whale Rider
Release Date	January 31, 2003
Original Language	English
Runtime	101
Certification	PG-13
Popularity Index (TMDB)	6.41
Rating (TMDB)	7.40