Movie Review6: Whale Rider

This movie was the most difficult for me to write movie review in all the movies because this movie’s content was very deep. This movie’s stage was the Maori of New Zealand and it is a about family’s love and tradition. Paikea lost her mother and twin brother when she was born. Her birth wasn’t welcomed by her grandfather, Koro because he was expecting a boy. If Paikea’s brother leave born, Koro must be happy. First, he thought that Paikea was a meaningless grandchild, but he came love her. He always goes to her school to pick up her by bicycle. He has some feelings which are dear and annoying. He was thinking about the future of Maori. The leader of Maori had to be a man and he must be the oldest son.
When Paikea’s father, Porourangi came back, Koro was pleased and he expected him to become Maori’s leader, but Porourangi wouldn’t do so. He wanted to be free from the Maori. The cause was because he lost his wife in the beginning. He left his hometown, and he became a popular artist. Koro was disappointed with his son, so he decided to select next leader from Maori’s oldest sons. He made them learn Maori’s tradition, history, songs, how to fight, and attitude. Paikea wanted to learn them with the boys, but she is a girl, so she wasn’t permitted to take part in the classes. Her grandmother had pity on her, so she recommended learning from Uncle Rawiri. Rawiri is younger brother of Porourangi, and Paikea’s uncle. He is good at the martial arts of rod, called “Taiaha.” Rawiri is his second son. Koro only needed his oldest son. Paikea could master taiaha with her uncle’s help. She only wants to be recognized by her grandfather. Koro got angry with her act because he didn’t want women to learn about Maori. More times he was thinking women are lower in Maori than men, and “Our leader must be man.” Koro had pride about being Maori, so he only allowed men to do traditional.
Koro couldn’t select next leader because nobody could find rites whale’s tooth necklace which was proof of leader. Koro stayed in bed because of shock. Paikea hurt her heart when she saw his condition. Paikea gave him speech in her school. The content would he about Koro. Paikea really loves him and wants to help for him, but all go around in circles. After the speech, many whales were thrown on the beach. When Koro saw them, he thought it must be end of Maori. Paikea rode on one of the whales and returned with them to the sea. Her grandmother gave the whale’s tooth necklace for Koro. “Why do you have it?” he asked her. “Don’t you understand? Pakea found it. Our grandchildren!” she cried. He realized all. “Paikea is our next leader.”
This movie isn’t short simple family’s love and traditional talk. How do you think of culture when it changes ever different thing? Is it disappearance or new culture? The right answer is nothing. We may choose the answer. In each culture, how we should live, nobody knows the answer, so we must prepare to live with responsibility which we choice it. After we prepared, we may advance to our best result. However, we don’t have to forget what we need much help from our important people. This movie was painted beautiful and had grand theme. (575 words/ 13520 words)