Whale Rider
Short description
Whale Rider is set in the New Zealand coastal community of Whangara, whose people trace their descent from Paikea, an ancestor said to have survived a canoe wreck by riding ashore on a whale's back. Tradition holds that the tribe's leader must be a firstborn son, so when a chief's grandchild is born a girl, her grandfather Koro cannot accept her as the heir he wants. The girl, Paikea, believes she is meant to lead, and although Koro refuses to train her, she learns the old customs in secret and works to prove herself worthy of the name she carries.
Niki Caro directed and wrote the screenplay, which was produced by John Barnett, Tim Sanders and Frank Hübner. Keisha Castle-Hughes plays Paikea, with Rawiri Paratene as Koro, Vicky Haughton as Nanny Flowers, Cliff Curtis as Porourangi, Grant Roa as Uncle Rawiri and Mana Taumaunu as Hemi. The film, made on a budget of about 8 million US dollars, has earned roughly 41 million US dollars worldwide.
On IMDb it holds 7.5 out of 10 from around 46,000 votes, and on TMDB 7 out of 10 from about 461 votes. A film critics' rating of 7.9 out of 10 from 156 reviews places it slightly above both audience scores. Whale Rider was the first of Caro's six directed features listed here, preceding North Country, McFarland, USA, The Zookeeper's Wife, Mulan and The Mother.
What's left behind the scenes
- A significant part of the film focuses on Paikea engaging in activities common among the Māori people, activities traditionally performed by men (such as canoeing or wrestling). When actress Keisha Castle-Hughes performed these tasks, the other actors and crew members recited special Māori incantations to ensure her safety. The Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand.
- The whales in the film are a combination of real whales, life-size models, and digital technology.
- Director and screenwriter Niki Caro insisted that Keisha Castle-Hughes go barefoot throughout the entire shoot – even off-camera. This was necessary for a more complete immersion into the role (Māori always go barefoot).
- The film was shot in Whangarei, New Zealand, where the novel is set. Local residents were used as actors and extras.
- During the film auditions, Keisha Castle-Hughes stated that she knew how to swim. It turned out this wasn't true only when filming began on scenes requiring her character to swim. A stunt double performed those scenes in her place.
- 10,000 people auditioned for the child roles in the film.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
