Whale Rider
The Whangara people believe their presence on the east coast of New Zealand dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. Since then, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born and always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the next chief. However, her grandfather Koro is obligated by tradition to choose a male leader. Pai adores Koro more than anyone else on the planet, but in order to fulfill her destiny, she must battle both him and a thousand years of tradition.
Released: 2003-01-30