Review of Whale Rider (2003) by Chihoe H — 30 Sep 2008
"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs." 'Whale Rider' is a very poignant film about a girl overcoming the odds of inheriting the role of village chief, being female and partly blamed for the death of her twin brother, the supposed next-in-line, and her mother during childbirth.
Touching on the Maori tradition, integration and acceptance, it amazed me with powerful scenes, honest performances and beautiful cinematography done mostly in New Zealand. Keisha Castle-Hughes was definitely the star of the show, and her convincing expressiveness definitely deserved her Oscar nomination.
This review of Whale Rider (2003) was written by Chihoe H on 30 Sep 2008.
Whale Rider has generally received positive reviews.
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