Whale rider also a story of an outsider looking in a white director fights cultural bias to film a maori tale in journalism, filmmaking and academia, there has been a longstanding debate. The chiefs eldest son, porourangi, fathers twins a boy and a girl. Whale rider also a story of an outsider looking in. Study guide for whale rider 2002 film whale rider 2002 film study guide contains a biography of director niki caro, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. In the movie, whale rider, there are great examples of joseph campbells article, four functions of myth, which are. These three wellused techniques are camera shots, lighting and sound and dialogue.
The film does not only show us one girls experience of growing up, but also tells us about the maori culture, tradition how gender is treated, and their leadership. In the film whale rider, what is the significance of the. Whale rider is a film that takes place in a small new zealand costal village. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis of. The world premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film festival. Film study film techniques by erryn marsay on prezi. If you need to access the research links again, they are provided below. 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. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. Nature vs nurture the switched at birth urban legend and the like father, like son debate provided hirokazu koreeda with a fresh opportunity to revisit his ongoing preoccupation with family dynamics and. This film actually tried to depict the civil rights movement through the. The whale rider together with yavaraj athur raghuvir i watched the movie called the whale rider which deals with the issue of cultural restrains both as an individual and as a society. Killer whale case study killer whales orcinus orca arguably the most cosmopolitan marine mammal species, killer whales are the top predators of the sea, capable of taking anything from small fish to blue whales.
It takes place in a small village of new zealand where the maori people live whale rider media ed. Pai is being raised by her loving grandparents, koro and nanny flowers rawiri paratene and vicky haughton. Whale rider is a drama film directed by niki caro which was released in 2002. Jun 16, 2003 whale rider also a story of an outsider looking in a white director fights cultural bias to film a maori tale in journalism, filmmaking and academia, there has been a longstanding debate. To see where whangara is located and to find out more about new zealand, go to.
Use your study packet to write about how certain elements from your cultural research are represented in the film. Questions will ask why kahus greatgrandfather does not accept her and why. Myth, culture, and family in whale rider essay 1012 words. Whale rider mat no 10 storyboarding read the following excerpt from the book the whale rider. The whale rider by witi ihimaera lesson plans and teaching resources antigone this unit plan includes a study guide and answers, a jeopardystyle game requires mspowerpoint or compatible application, other projects, tests, and an extension activity connecting antigone with the whale rider.
Originally her father had planned to name his son after paikea. Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale rider. The story is based on the maori claim that they are descendants from paikea, the whale rider. 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. Film analysis paper the film whale rider took me on a whale of an emotional ride. Pais mother died during childbirth and her artist father has left new zealand. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki. Whale rider 1 a promotional still for whale rider country. Other examples relating to self sacrifice can also be seen in symbolic sacrifices of the body. Paikea is a small girl that is years old, and is a direct descendant of paikea, the original whale rider. Religious themes in whale rider sacrificial love sacrificial love describes the action of sacrificing oneself to stop torment or suffering of another person or group of people. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. The film whale rider i about a young girl named paikea.
Jun 08, 2011 whale rider analysis most heroes are big strong men, or mythical creatures that have thousands of stories and tales written about them. Pai main character and the new whale rider born into a line of chiefs has all the qualities of a leader struggles against gender stereotypes and koro. In the film, whale rider, pai discovers her sense of self as she reinvents the maori tribes creation myth to save the dying culture. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below. The movement and placement of actors within the scene. The module consists of teachers notes and a handout with background information that you can copy and give to your students. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its back.
In the room when they are both alone, pai is unconscious when koro says to her wise leader this shows that koro has faced the facts that pai is the born leader. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to earn her grandfathers. Whale rider this module has been designed to accompany the film whale rider 2003. In the film whale rider, what is the significance of the main. 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. Many of the film s background cast and extras are locals who are familiar with the paikea legend from a firsthand perspective. Whale rider cert pg, 101 mins set in new zealand, a male in every new generation becomes the leader of the maori tribe paikea the whale rider. Describe and analyse the posters and say which of the four you like most. Nancy grimm feature films in english language teaching. Analysis of the whale rider essay example graduateway. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale rider this module has been designed to accompany the film whale rider 2003. Everyone plays their part in an excellent and believable way. She has used a number of cinematic techniques in this film to create atmosphere and sometimes show what the character is feeling. Whale rider mat no 1 film posters have a look at the film posters below.
It can be seen in the bible through jesus crucifixion. Clips from some of our greatest visual storytellers put these terms in context, showing how filmmakers use these concepts and techniques to create iconic imagery, memorable characters, and powerful stories. Whale rider is a 2002 film that was based on the book the whale rider by witi ihimaera film education. The movie is depicted through the eyes of paikea, a strong and intelligent female with the potentials of a leader, a view not shared by other characters in the early part of the film.
In the film whale rider, pais grandfather mourns the death of his infant grandson and resents his granddaughter pai because she is. The film whale rider is a story of leadership, sacrifice, family, and the role of women and the culture of the maoris. In every generation for over 1,000 years, a male heir born to the chief succeeds to the title. Finally at the end of the film whale rider koro had realized that pai is the true leader, to face this koro had to travel an inner journey to accept that the tradition had changed. This was a period in which women were just beginning to be truly accepted into the workforce. 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. Like most children growing up in such illustrious families, ida anita did not want to become a filmmaker, but then she met the tboli people, the indigenous peoples of south cotabato in southern mindanao, and was moved enough to want to make a film that would tell their story. Jun 20, 2003 whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. Killer whale orca conservation case study the mohamed. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of whale rider. The movie opens with a young lady giving birth to twins.
Whale rider takes place in present day new zealand, where a 12yearold girl named pai keisha castlehughes is growing up in an allmaori community. The movie focuses on the story of a young girl, paikea, and her grandfather, koro. 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. Whales have become more valuable alive for whale watching and in aquariums than dead in many countries. However, some countries andor groups of peoples still consider whaling a. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page.
The girl who plays pai is in my opinion the best though as she is absolutely believable in all her varied situations. If your subject is a person a medium shot would show them from the waist up common film techniques use. Whale rider is an internationally successful new zealand film focusing on indigenous cultural issues. In 2005, the film was named on the bfi list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14. In a small new zealand coastal village, maori claim descent from paikea, the whale rider. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis of postcolonial theory nancy. It tells the story of a young maori girl, called paikea after her ancestor, who was a great leader to his people and the original whale rider. Whale rider when talking about choosing the location to shoot whale rider, the films producer, john barnett says. 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. There are physical things that are described in the book the sweep of the bay, the island that looks.
The novel was set in whangara and it would almost have been heresy to shoot anywhere else. Whale rider medium shot or mid shot a medium shot frames more of your subject while still revealing some of the background. The indie film whale rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. The rich language of the cinema provides the foundation for jbfcs visual glossary. Whale rider is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of witi ihimaera, and directed by niki caro.
Set on the east coast of new zealand, the whangara people believe their presence there dates back one tho. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis. Whale rider can be enjoyed by adults, like myself, or with older children as well. Maori tattoos are famous for their intricate designs, size, and beauty.
The happiest refugee is an extract from a memoir, it is about ahn dos journey to a better life, it tells us about all. When talking about choosing the location to shoot whale rider, the films producer, john barnett says. The novel whale rider was written in a time of great change for women and the issues of the 1980s are still present today. Maternity leave pay was granted and people were demanding that there be equal number of men and women in high positions in the. 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 module consists of teachers notes and a handout with background information that. The whale rider novel appears somehow like a modern tale. A filmmaker whose work is stylistically recognizable and told in his or her unique voice.
Find whale rider lesson plans and teaching resources. The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. Niki caro is a white new zealand woman, who after directing whale rider, directed north country, a film that focuses on the struggle of female miners. Her grandfather koro apirana believes that this is a role reserved for males only. Pai, a surviving female twin must fight to fulfil a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognise. As it was the case in many other parts of the pacific, early encounters. While koro is desperate about not having a male grandchild he starts to look for a male successor amongst his tribe, unaware that kahu has the aptitudes which a chief requires. The story takes place in new zealand where the maori people of a small village claim descent from the whale rider, paikea. The opening scene where koros inability to accept pai as a true leader is first. Whale rider essaysthe film whale rider by niki caro, is a popular film highly rated among many critics across the globe. Though there is a recurrent and overarching feeling of greatwhaleinthesea calm, strength and beauty, there is a strong undercurrent of emotional turmoil, with which each of the main characters struggle.
In the film, whale rider, pai discovers her sense of self as she reinvents the maori tribes creation myth to. It has been nominated for many prestigious awards including best actress. Yet, whale rider does not fit into any of the subgenres associated with the australian womans film. Speculate about the content of the film whale rider.
The film gained much respect from critics, it went on in film festivals such as sundance and tribecca, and gained international recognition. The story is about a young maori girl called kahu who is the granddaughter of koro apirana, chief of a maori tribe. Whale rider is explicit in its depiction of the journey of pai, koro and the community. Blackfish official trailer 20 documentary movie hd. Leadership styles observed in whale rider dannette allen. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale. As much publicity as these charismatic carnivores get, it is remarkable that we dont know how many species there are. It follows them in their daily lives and shows how tradition and events culminate in the confrontation of modern versus ancient values. Although economically whaling has centered around the killing of whales for food, oil, and other products most of these needs are now met by many alternate sources. The novel was set in whangara and it would almost have. Rowan saw 10,000 children from numerous schools before. The womans film is often directed by a woman, which is the case with whale rider. Myth, culture, and family in whale rider essay 1012.
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