Paikea Apirana

“In the old days the land felt a great emptiness. It was waiting to be filled, waiting for someone to love it, waiting for a leader…. our ancestor Paikea. But now we were waiting for the first born of the new generation…. My brother died and took our mother with him … He died and I didn’t”. 



The story started when the twin was born but 'my brother died and i didn't' and everything has gone wrong after she was born and her grandfather was not glad when she is alive. They named her Paikea Apirana but her father, Pororangi left the town to Germany so that he could not see the emptiness of the tribe where substance abuse happened to replaced their emptiness. 


Whale rider in this movie act as the symbol of culture and relating to growth of individual of leader as how it portrays by Paikea bringing her whole tribe together and proving her ability as the chosen leader. The whale is the representation of God and the death of the whale shown to prove the disappointment of God towards their people and after the incident of this only the people started to realized and regret about their people loses faith in their God. The decaying culture and the man's soul that drifting is between the unconscious, Paikea is then feel the responsibility for her to lead the people and to awaken the tribe glory and she experience death and then resurrection, not only prove to the tribe but herself.


LEADERSHIP - TRADITION AND CHANGE

Paikea knew she is the real leader that she born with, she knew she has been chosen by the ancestor but at the same time she don't dare to speak up just so she is a girl and she knew her grandfather will be very disappointed and angry at her if she do so so she kept it quiet within herself but at the same time she learn from herself the rituals of a leader should have. Her bravery and perseverance that brings her further, especially she learn to fight with the 'taiaha' where only boy allowed to hold it. As a leader it could apply to the society nowadays being trapped and confronted by tons of reason to not hurt others while realizing their dreams or doing goods for others. The girl child, Pai, on the threshold of adolescence, and leadership of her tribe, is prepared for the death of her younger self as she sounds on the back of the bull whale. 


EXPECTATIONS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES

Pai's grandfather, Koro faced great pressure from his tribe to find a leader and he is disappointed when he realises that there will be no son and heir to continue as Chief. Even though he loves Pai, he will not allow himself to see her potential as a leader because she is a girl.  Koro is even more disappointed at last where none of the males tribe succeed in becoming the chief. The boys fail the final test of retrieving a whale tooth from the sea bed.  An underwater shot of two boys fighting over the tooth one of them has retrieved seems to underline the limitations of masculine competitiveness. But Pai succeeds, a fact her koro learns later after his grand daughter has helped a stranded pod of whales return to the ocean. The old bull whale responds to her voice and touch, as he did eons past to her ancestor, Paikea, and he leads his “people” back to the depths of the ocean.


THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMAN

In Whale Rider, Pai has to fight to get recognition as a leader despite she is a girl especially form her grandfather, Koro what she wants the most is the acknowledgement of Koro on her. Her love towards Koro is deep that she never blame Koro for anything even at how the way Koro treated her but she chose to forgive him where at last he said 'Its okay, Papa'. She strive herself to become a chief. Pai also succeed in bringing the new concept and meaning to the tribe where 'feminine' can also be a leader it does not necessary just stay at home and perform certain required rituals. Which she brings new breathe to the tribe to go extra miles long. 


WHALES AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATURE 

The close connection of tribe Maori taught us a lesson that human by should come together to create a harmony world to live but this is exactly human has forgot to do. Being too occupied in their own world and material has drive human to another corner where nature are only for certain human that love nature. The idea should impose on human where all human should take care of the nature and not modernizing their life to be more luxurious life. The sea and whales form a larger context, which provides an image for the depth and intensity of the emotions, powerful forces, which are enacted through the specifics of the characters and story.  These are the elements which give the film the universal quality many have spoken of. This film hits audience to love a more authentic life despite technologies and modernization.



The film succeed in bringing audiences to see a range of issues from struggling of identity, for separateness and belonging; inter-generational and gender conflict; the struggles and triumphs of a culture to re-establish itself after resurrection.



The question is what effect, if any, such a film has on the consciousness of the individuals and social groups who see it. It has certainly had an effect on the people who made it.

'Vivir con miedo es como vivir a medias'

Strictly Ballroom (1992) is an Australian romantic comedy film directed by Baz Luhrmann.

 The big theme of this movie illustrated the story on what happened when you are different? Out of norm might not be accepted as the title portrayed “Strictly Ballroom” not to accurately portray real life, is larger than life (blown up). The director chose ballroom as the setting is perfect because ballroom dance has a set of rules to follow to be called a ballroom but when Scott introducing new steps against the rules and norms during the first scene where Liz compliance towards Scott's direction and affirmation on dancing so, which in turn they did not win the competition that's where Liz immediately felt angry and frustrated by screaming in and out storming out the competition hall and his mother studio. She screamed and verbal aggression towards Scott on his unconventional new steps and his disregard of rules. And Scott's mother reaction is disgrace to their family.

This movie portray the need of courage to no follow in line and to be stand out on what you are passionate of. And by trying new things is a risk that will lead to failure and disagreement by others so might as well just follow others because is easier this is through operant conditioning. Especially to be shown by Liz when she did not win the competition so she receive failure so she changed partner to let her win and not to be drag by Scott. Why Barry Fife are so afraid of changes and insists there will be no new steps, simply because he scared of losing power and influence if there is changes, he cannot teach new step he cannot dance new step its all about business for him. For Scott's mother where she does not agree Scott's new steps and even think that's disgrace to the family its because Scott mother is talking about their livelihood, about their business and career not accredited no license, erode power base on telling Scott how to live how to dance. So she compliance upon Barry to tell Scott the 'truth' about Doug and Scott at last obedience towards them to help his dad wishes come true by dancing the federation ways.

                                             When Barry persuading Scott to compliance.

Dance is a symbolic of actual relationship when one dancing and the other reacting it is responding towards each other and not uniformity. When the director pick ballroom as the setting is an act of relieve of catharsis, oxymoron is the irony, there is no freedom of expressions in ballroom but Scott is the one with strong individualism and passion in his expression in dancing. But Scott shown his self-centered and his LEVEL as qualified good dancer that shouldn't partner with Fran that just a beginner. On the other hand Fran is the one that taught Scott regarding the perseverance and hard work in dancing their steps in Pan Pacific. Fran is the first one that agreed his steps and wanna dance his steps at the Pan Pacific.

Fran is the one with strength and brave enough to change, wakes up call for Scott on what is heart and hard.

I personally admired Fran personality and how she appeared in persuading Scott despite is it hard, even the movie is trying to portray the physical appearance that's not determining one qualification and talent but we can clearly see Fran in the movie is obviously getting good looking every time she practice with Scott. Physical appearance does matters in this movie as to prove your skills, outer change symbolize inner change despite there is not much. Subtle change by director to fool the audience.

If really the 'old' Fran's physical appearance remains till the end do you think Scott will still dance with her or even fall in love with her?

Dance should be a creative platform to express art cannot have restriction because is an expression of arts. Especially when Fran's grandmother asking Scott to listen to the rhythm when learning Paso Doble. Listening to rhythm = listen to heart, not artificial following, feeling the rhythm with heart, symbolic to life as to rhythm (music, life, journey).

    

                                                           Listen to the rhythm

 The scene where i remembered the most where social influence play a big role is where Scott and Fran being asked to leave the ballroom but luckily in the midst Doug is clapping the rhythm and the key point is others must conform to the clapping so that they could get the recognition and continue dancing their steps. It could be the crowd really supporting both of them or just plainly conforming since others are clapping too. If you don't clap while others do means you are different one now.