The Whale Rider

If trying to get advance tickets for T3 or Legally Blonde just becomes boring, go see The Whale Rider. The lyrical movie with a more powerful female empowerment theme than Charle's Angels is about a young girl, Pai, whose mostly absent father, mourning the death of her mother and twin brother, has left her grandfather, a Maori tribal chief, to search for the next male chief. Pai wonders why she can't be in line, as she is descended from a line of chiefs. It may seem like a sentimental story, but it's gorgeously and intimately told. Roger Ebert says "The genius of the movie is the way is sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving." Elvis Mitchell suggests "Bear with ''Whale Rider'': once the picture kicks into gear, it has the inspiring resonance of found art."

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By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on July 5, 2003 11:12 AM

Comments [rss]

sophie

i loved this movie! i'm very happy to see you recommending it here. i thought the girl who played pai was amazing and that the scenery is stunning. the movie is so well filmed and just an amazing story of the maoris.

Jen

I enjoyed the movie immensely even though I was a weepy mess - especially during the school assembly scene.

Lena

I certainly enjoyed this movie. It made me both sad and happy. Thanks for introducing me to see it.

goenrounsen

I'm living temporarily in NZ now. Seeing Whale Rider was a great introduction to the amazing Maori culture. Well acted and movingly told - definitely worth seeing.

drone collector

I mean, don't get me wrong, the hearse chase in "T:3" where the T-X clings to the roof as it races through the cemetary being driven by a T-800 is also quite inspiring.

bone collector

I think the scene during the evening school assembly when Pai describes how much she admires her g-pa is one of the best moments in cinema this year.