Whale Rider

About the movie

In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from the mythic Paikea, the Whale rider. In every generation a male heir has succeeded to the chiefly title. This time however, a girl seems to be the chosen one. But her grandfather, the present chief, is cramped by custom and tradition and is wilfully blind to her obvious potential. And yet Pai persists in learning the Maori ways and customs and finally gets to prove herself.
Whale Rider was a tremendous box-office success in New Zealand; number two on the domestic all time high just after the likewise Maori themed “Once we were warriors”. First time actress Keisha Castle-Hughes received unanimous acclaim for her portrayal of the strong willed Pai, and was the youngest girl ever to be Academy Award Nominated for Best Actress.

Participating