
Whale Rider - 2002
South Pacific Pictures - 101 min.
Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu, Rachel House, Taungaroa Emile. Screenplay: Niki Caro from a novel by Witi Ihimaera; Director of Photography: Leon Narbey; Music: Lisa Gerrard; Editing: David Coulson; Costume Design: Kirsty Cameron; Production Design: Grant Major; Producer: John Barnett, Bill Gavin; Director: Niki Caro.
The people of Whangara believe that their first ancester, Paikea, arrived on the back of a whale. In the centuries that followed, a line of first born boys have descended from him to become chiefs - until today. Today, the tradition would fall to a girl named Pai, but her grandfather chief refuses to acknowledge her claim.