Summary:
On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there 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. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, 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 new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
| Runtime: | 101 min |
|---|---|
| Rating: | Rated PG-13 for brief language and a momentary drug reference. |
| Production: | Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen |
| Genres: | Drama, Family |
| Countries: | Germany, New Zealand |
| Languages: | English, Maori |
| Home Release Date: | Oct 28, 2003 |
| Director | Credit |
|---|---|
| Niki Caro | Director |
| Writer | Credit |
|---|---|
| Niki Caro | Written By |
| Witi Ihimaera | From The Book "The Whale Rider" By |
| Principal Cast | Credit |
|---|---|
| Cliff Curtis | Porourangi |
| Keisha Castle-Hughes | Paikea |
| Rawiri Paratene | Koro |
| Vicky Haughton | Nanny Flowers |
| Cast | Credit |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Skeen | Rehua |
| Grant Roa | Uncle Rawiri |
| Mabel Wharekawa | Maka |
| Mana Taumaunu | Hemi |
| Rachel House | Shilo |
| Rawinia Clarke | Miro |
| Roi Taimana | Hemi's Dad |
| Tahei Simpson | Miss Parata |
| Tammy Davis | Dog |
| Taungaroa Emile | Willie |
| Tyronne White | Jake |
| Producer | Credit |
|---|---|
| Bill Gavin | Executive Producer |
| Frank Hübner | Producer |
| John Barnett | Producer |
| Linda Goldstein Knowlton | Executive Producer |
| Reinhard Brundig | Co-Producer |
| Tim Sanders | Producer |
| Witi Ihimaera | Associate Producer |
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