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FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2003

Desson Howe: "Watching this delightful film, one can see why it has been winning audience favorite awards at film festivals. "Whale Rider," written and directed by Niki Caro from a 1986 novel by Witi Ihimaera, evokes its spirituality with deft strokes and wonderful humor. You can feel the power of myth in the very presence of these characters, most of them Maoris, who are the living embodiment of a life that sees past, present and future as one spiritual reference point, and who feel equally comfortable in the modern world and the world of their forefathers."

Ann Hornaday: "Most of the tension in "Whale Rider" is generated by Pai and her obstinate grandfather, who clearly loves the little girl but can't see past his own rigid notions of gender and tradition. Although Pai calmly fulfills every test of an anointed leader, the most difficult one seems to come the most easily to her: In the face of almost unspeakable rejection by her grandfather, she responds only with understanding, forgiveness and quiet perseverance. Although "Whale Rider" is sure to strike viewers as a magnificent portrait of New Zealand as well as a fable, it's even more admirable -- and enduring -- as a thoughtful, vivid spiritual coming-of-age story that transcends its particular cultural context."

Ty Burr: " Taking place in the village of Whangara, on the northeast coast of New Zealand's North Island, ''Whale Rider'' is the story of a people's decline and a young girl's uphill battle to restore its pride. Paikea, or Pai, is 11 when the film proper begins -- she has a child's playful eyes but a brow furrowing with purpose -- and the wrecked culture she surveys could just as easily be on a Native American reservation or above the Arctic Circle. Drinking and joblessness are pandemic, the women chain-smoke and play cards all day, and the men are either in prison or have, like her father, Porourangi (Cliff Curtis), fled to less hopeless climes."

Get the Story:
'Whale Rider' Tells Story of a Rare Heir (The Washington Post 6/20)
'Whale Rider': This Girl, She Goes! (The Washington Post 6/20)
'Whale' is a mythical tale of Maori culture (The Boston Globe 6/20)

Relevant Links:
Whale Rider - http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com

Related Stories:
Maori movie, 'The Whale Rider,' wins rave reviews (6/16)