| In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the
Whale Rider. In every generation for more than 1000 years, a male heir born
to the Chief succeeds to the title.
The time is now. The Chief's eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins a boy
and a girl. But the boy and his mother die in childbirth. The surviving
girl is named Pai.
Grief-stricken, her father leaves her to be raised by her grandparents.
Koro, her grandfather who is the Chief, refuses to acknowledge Pai as the
inheritor of the tradition and claims she is of no use to him. But her
grandmother, Flowers, sees more than a broken line, she sees a child in
desperate need of love.
And Koro learns to love the child. When Pai¹s father, Porourangi, now a
feted international artist, returns home after twelve years, Koro hopes
everything is resolved and Porourangi will to accept destiny and become his
successor.
But Porourangi has no intention of becoming Chief. He has moved away from
his people both physically and emotionally. After a bitter argument with
Koro he leaves, suggesting to Pai that she come with him. She starts the
journey but quickly returns, claiming her grandfather needs her.
Koro is blinded by prejudice and even Flowers cannot convince him that Pai
is the natural heir. The old Chief is convinced that the tribe¹s
misfortunes began at Pai¹s birth and calls for his people to bring their
12-year-old boys to him for training.
He is certain that through a gruelling process of teaching the ancient
chants, tribal lore and warrior techniques, the future leader of their tribe
will be revealed to him.
Meanwhile, deep within the ocean, a massive herd of whales is responding,
drawn towards Pai and their twin destinies.
When the whales become stranded on the beach, Koro is sure this signals an
apocalyptic end to his tribe. Until one person prepares to make the
ultimate sacrifice to save the people. The Whale Rider. |