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The Whale Rider is a dramatic movie based on the Witi Ihimaeras 1987 book with the same title, which describes the adventurous events of a girls life in a New Zealand tribe. The film includes various settings of the ancient lands of the continent and represents the lives, culture, and traditions of the natives (Caro). Navajo and Maori are the ethnic groups representatives of which still live in New Zealand, and therefore The Whale Rider contains many details that would help people understand how the country lives. The plot is built around the main character, Paus, striving to ascend to chiefdom in the tribe where only males are allowed to take leading roles (Caro). This reaction paper aims to discuss the religious tradition approached in the film considering ethical, theological, and philosophical questions raised in The Whale Rider.
The movies theme is dedicated to the ancient tribes values and customs, therefore The Whale Rider provides valuable insight into the natives religious traditions. Indeed, the Whangara people believed that they must be guided by the Paikeas ancestors, always male and first-born (Caro). The notion that women cannot take any leading roles is widespread due to the theological perceiving of gods and world creators as men. Consequently, the movie becomes more emotional as the story describes how a girl tried to break the ancient stereotype. Moreover, theological context exists in the story of Pais birth as her mother and brother died, leaving her as a destined successor. The girls character is portrayed through her strong willpower, her main activity as a whale rider, and the relationships she built with her family and tribe.
The Whale Rider discusses the broad philosophical question of love as Pais natural childish need for it leads to different events. For instance, her grandmother and grandfather, the recent Chief of the tribe, find it difficult to admit that the line of successors was broken by the child (Caro). Pai needs to make sacrifices to convince her family that she is worth loving and helps resolve the issue with the herd of whales growing near Whangara. The Whale Rider is a drama worth watching by the whole family because it teaches both parents and children to love unconditionally.
The film can also be analyzed from an ethical perspective as the questions of the pressure of traditions and gender issues are addressed in it. It is essential to consider that solid customs such as the heritage of governance and separation of men and women roles helped tribes survive in periods of uncertainty. However, the plot of The Whale Rider reveals that the unique circumstances may occur, making ethical evaluation necessary for decision-making. The challenges faced by Pai and the way she was treated by her grandfather Koro and father Porourangi make the audience think of the injustice of the childs life. Indeed, the ethical issue of conservative and traditional notions is showed by Caro in the difficulties necessary to overcome it (Caro). The central part of the story is the demand for Pai to fight against her own grandfather to make him believe she can become the tribes Chief (Caro). Such scenes emotionally impact the audience, forcing them to feel the conflicts toughness.
The Whale Rider is filmed among beautiful landscapes of Whangara, making each viewer imagine if they were part of the ancient culture, deep traditions, and tribal beliefs. The breath-taking frames of nature are combined with the scenes of Pais riding whales, her preparation to prove the mastery to become the Chief, and her familys customs. The film addresses the questions of searching for a mission, believing in oneself, and the power of traditions. The Whale Rider also makes the audience think of the nature of love in a family and the necessity of prosperous, happy childhood. The example of the solid traditional society of Navajo and Maori is the foundation for modern people to revise their values and beliefs.
Work Cited
The Whale Rider. Directed by Niki Caro, performance by Keisha Castle-Hughes, South Pacific Pictures, 2003.
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