Whale Rider

2002
PG
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

44K

YOUR RATING

Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar

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8 Videos

83 Photos

Drama Family

A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

44K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 33 wins & 35 nominations total

Maka
(as Mabel Wharekawa-Burt)

Rawinia Clarke

Miro

Tahei Simpson

Miss Parata

Roi Taimana

Hemi's Dad
(as Roimata Taimana)

Elizabeth Skeen

Rehua

Tyronne White

Jake
(as Tyrone White)

Taupua Whakataka-Brightwell

Ropata

Tenia McClutchie-Mita

Wiremu

Peter Patuwai

Bubba

Director
- Niki Caro
Writers
- Niki Caro
- Witi Ihimaera
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The whales in the movie are a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI. Keisha Castle-Hughes said the key whale riding scene took place 15-20 miles offshore, and was terrifying.

Goofs
The father and grandfather argue after the slide show, and the father goes to pull down the white sheet that was hung over some drapes to act as a screen. He pulls it down, along with the rod and orange drapes that the sheet was hanging from. Moments later, the drapes are back up in place and hanging perfectly straight, without enough time for him to re-hang the drapes.

Quotes
[first lines]
Paikea: In the old days, the land felt a great emptiness. It was waiting. Waiting to be filled up. Waiting for someone to love it. Waiting for a leader.
[child birth scene]
Paikea: And he came on the back of a whale. A man to lead a new people. Our ancestor, Paikea. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. For the boy who would be chief.
Paikea: There was no gladness when I was born. My twin brother died, and took our mother with him.

Crazy credits
Dedicated to those who have gone before

Connections
Featured in The Making of 'Whale Rider' (2003)

Soundtracks
Bar One
(International Observer)
Loaded Sounds
Performed by International Observer
Courtesy of IO Audio

User reviews380

Review

Featured review

What a Find!

Whale Rider is a story of the quest for the new leader of an indigenous Maori tribe living on an island off the coast of New Zealand. Often this type of film ends up making a caricature of the people, accentuating their quaint customs and idiosyncratic behaviors and causing us to smile condescendingly at their ignorance and stunted development. Whale Rider does nothing of the kind. Director Niki Caro treats her subject matter with profound respect, genuine curiosity and effortless grace, while refusing to ignore the signs of cultural disintegration. It is as if we are invited into the Whangara community, and are free to observe comfortably, without fear or embellishment. The 11-year-old first-time actor Keisha Castle-Hughes gives the most astonishing performance by a child that I have ever witnessed, and lifts the movie from being just plain good to a profoundly moving experience. Whale Rider is a tale of the evolution of a culture, wrapped in humor and hope. It is a story of an indomitable spirit. It is a movie about love and change, about the grim realities of life and the marvelous miracles of faith. If you have a chance to see this film, do not miss it!