Log In


Film Reviews

Whale Rider

Whale Rider

  • Rating: Whale Rider rated 4
  • Director:
  • Starring: Cliff Curtis
  • Details: NZ / 104 mins / (12PG).

An extremely accomplished drama set in rural New Zealand,' Whale Rider' follows Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), an 11-year-old girl born into the linage of tribal chiefs. Her twin brother and mother died at her birth and despite the obvious love that her grandfather Koro (Rawiri Paratene) has for the wilful Pai, it's obvious that he would have preferred a boy to continue on the traditions. Pai's largely absent father (Cliff Curtis) has rejected the ways of his people, further alienating Koro and leaves Pai determined to appease her grandfather's staunch tribalism.
'Whale Rider' may appear to be a standard addition to the coming of age genre, but this is a richly emotional piece of work, and a film which examines the cultural annihilation of a race of people pitched against the encroaching tide of modernisation. The performances are something special too. Although she was only 11 years of age when the movie was made, Castle-Hughes displays real presence, demonstrating a range and maturity that most actors twice her age would find difficult to duplicate. Her main foil is the emotional sterile Koro, a man whose desperation for a new leader is easier to understand when you see the lethargy which has enveloped most of the village's youngsters. Certainly not as dark as 'Once Were Warriors' (1993), 'Whale Rider' manages to paint just as an effective portrait of an ancient culture in danger of permanent erosion.

Review by Garreth Murphy

Your Comments

No Comments have been posted for this article yet - be the first

Write Your Own Comment!

Search

Or search alphabetically:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

DVD Reviews

More DVD

The Descendants
FILM TITLE rated 4

 When a film, especially a low key drama, is hyped up then there can be a certain level of disappointment in some quarters. Thankfully, Alexander Payne's first feature since the superb... [more]

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
FILM TITLE rated 4

 Full disclosure: I have never read the books that this American-financed remake is based upon, nor have I seen the hugely successful Swedish productions that followed it. A classy production... [more]

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
FILM TITLE rated 3

Pixar stalwart Brad Bird makes his live-action feature debut with a franchise that has just had its most underrated installment. JJ Abrams' first film is almost vintage Cameron, and was a much... [more]

Shame
FILM TITLE rated 4

 An unrelenting examination of a fascinating but bleak character, Shame is a dramatical, dense and remarkable film that will astound and disturb in equal measure. While Steve McQueen's sombre... [more]

Your Cinema Listings

Competitions

No competitons currently running