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.
No comments:
Post a Comment