Whale Rider (DVD)

Caro, Niko (2002). Whale Rider [Motion picture].  New Zealand:  Appollo Media.

Summary:  Set in picturesque New Zealand, Whale Rider tells the story of 12-year-old Pai.  Pai's twin brother died at birth along with their mother, which devastated Pai's grandfather who believed that her brother was destined to be the incarnation of a Maori hero and the chief who would save their traditional ways and beliefs that are disintegrating in modern times.  Pai yearns to please her grandfather by learning sacred traditions, but her grandfather only gets angry because the traditions are strictly for boys and her efforts offend the ancestors.   But, can her persistence and achievement of challenging feats make him change his mind?

Additional comments:  The beautiful cinematography, the visual capturing of Maori rituals, such as the haka, and the enchanting songs to the ancestors that are echoed by eery whale songs all combine to make the movie possibly a better option than the book (with exception of the Hollywood ending).  The strong themes of the "Whale Rider" are the loss of ancient cultures in modern, oppressive societies as well as the inequitable treatment of girls in a male-dominated culture.