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. | ||
| Title | : | Whale Rider |
| Release Date | : | 2003-01-30 |
| Runtime | : | |
| Production Countries | : | New Zealand, |
| Production Co. | : | South Pacific Pictures |
| Genres | : | Drama, Family, |
| Casts | : | Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu, Rachel House, Taungaroa Emile, Tammy Davis, Mabel Wharekawa, Rawinia Clarke, Tahei Simpson, |
| Plot Keywords | : | ocean, loss of mother, tradition, loss of brother, becoming an adult, role of women, empowerment, new zealand, maori tradition, chief, grandfather granddaughter relationship, modern society, whale, patriarch, stick fighting, canoe, patriarchy, loss of wife, woman director, |
| Alternative Titles | : | Te Kaieke Tohora Encantadora de Baleias La Légende des baleines Paï : L'Élue d'un peuple nouveau Paï Valasratsastaja |
