"Whale Rider" is a wonderful example of cultural and generational expectations, and how difficult life can become when one must navigate through these obstacles to fulfill their destiny. Our lead character, Paikea, tells us that she is not the leader her grandfather, Koro, expected. Koro is very traditional and has traditional expectations. The younger generations have fallen away from the customs, many living immoral lives where drugs are an escape. Others, like Paikea's father, have left the community to find their own place in the world. None seem to have any sense of pride in their heritage or ambition to see the traditions of their ancestors passed on to successive generations. The tribe is entirely ununified and no one except Paikea can bridge the gap. Almost everyone in this film seems to be an outcast in one way or another at some point in the film.
The film really addressed a struggle that we all face at some point in time: failing to live up to the expectations of others or our own expectations. No one can please everyone all the time, and when you have a destiny it's quite possible that you won't be pleasing most people. In this film Koro, the patriarch of the family and tribe, was disappointed in almost everyone around him. His oldest son would not come home. His granddaughter could not be a chief, yet she was constantly trying to do things designated for males only. Further adding to his grief, his younger son was a lazy pothead, and none of the younger generation seemed to show any interest or respect for the ways of their ancestors. All of these people who don't conform to his way of thinking are then subject to his criticism, which damages the relationships closest to him. As the film progresses Koro becomes increasingly bitter, and Pai and her father become particularly hurt at not being good enough to please him. His desire for conformity is placed above the relationships and feelings of his family, causing his priorities to be out of balance.
Although Pai certainly tests the traditional guidelines of the community, no one seems all that disturbed by it, except Koro. She sits with the boys when he orders her not to, comes to the school after she has been forbidden and trains with her uncle to use the Taiaha. She uses her new skills to defeat the young man who her grandfather sees as a prospect for becoming the new chief, disgracing him in Koro's eyes and causing him to be eliminated from the group. Yet it seems that most of the community takes Pai's side. In their hearts, Koro is the one who is inappropriate. No one challenges him, but everyone seems to secretly cheer for Pai. Even though she tests the boundaries of the old culture, Pai has something that seems to otherwise be missing from today's culture within the tribe: honor. The people of the tribe see her heart and are drawn together through her, despite the fact that it is not traditional for a girl to fill the role.
One of the great points made in this film is that disappointing someone is not the end of the world. Pai asks her grandmother, Flowers, in regard to Koro, "What if he fails?..What will happen?" Flowers answers firmly, "Then he fails. Nothing will happen..." It's true, failure is not the end of the world, and neither is displeasing someone in order to do what you know is right. Pai knew she had to learn the traditions, and she knew she had to ride the whale. She was the only one who could do it, even though she was a girl. One of the most touching scenes in the film is when Koro realizes that Pai had retrieved the whale tooth, which was supposed to be found by the new chief. The grief in his eyes as he came to terms with the consequences of his stubborn pride is the greatest evidence that Pai's non-conformity had really made a change. When everyone, young and old, is united on the traditional carved boat singing and chanting and living together as a tribe, with pride in who they are and who their ancestors were, it's clear that without Pai's perseverance and brazen non-conformity none of this would have come to pass.
Personally I tend to conform rather than to buck the system. Yet Pai really inspired me. The film was put together so genuinely, with such an air of authenticity, that I really felt as if I were taking something away. As if I didn't just watch the film, but it became a part of me. The more I thought about this and pondered on what it was that had impacted me, I realized that I had a desire to really seek out my own place in the world and to question the motivation behind my choices in order to be true to my own purpose. I can go in so many different directions, but which way is best suited to my destiny? Although I don't see myself climbing on the back of a whale anytime soon, there will certainly be some positive changes in my life in the near future as a result of this film and it's impact on me.
The film really addressed a struggle that we all face at some point in time: failing to live up to the expectations of others or our own expectations. No one can please everyone all the time, and when you have a destiny it's quite possible that you won't be pleasing most people. In this film Koro, the patriarch of the family and tribe, was disappointed in almost everyone around him. His oldest son would not come home. His granddaughter could not be a chief, yet she was constantly trying to do things designated for males only. Further adding to his grief, his younger son was a lazy pothead, and none of the younger generation seemed to show any interest or respect for the ways of their ancestors. All of these people who don't conform to his way of thinking are then subject to his criticism, which damages the relationships closest to him. As the film progresses Koro becomes increasingly bitter, and Pai and her father become particularly hurt at not being good enough to please him. His desire for conformity is placed above the relationships and feelings of his family, causing his priorities to be out of balance.
Although Pai certainly tests the traditional guidelines of the community, no one seems all that disturbed by it, except Koro. She sits with the boys when he orders her not to, comes to the school after she has been forbidden and trains with her uncle to use the Taiaha. She uses her new skills to defeat the young man who her grandfather sees as a prospect for becoming the new chief, disgracing him in Koro's eyes and causing him to be eliminated from the group. Yet it seems that most of the community takes Pai's side. In their hearts, Koro is the one who is inappropriate. No one challenges him, but everyone seems to secretly cheer for Pai. Even though she tests the boundaries of the old culture, Pai has something that seems to otherwise be missing from today's culture within the tribe: honor. The people of the tribe see her heart and are drawn together through her, despite the fact that it is not traditional for a girl to fill the role.
One of the great points made in this film is that disappointing someone is not the end of the world. Pai asks her grandmother, Flowers, in regard to Koro, "What if he fails?..What will happen?" Flowers answers firmly, "Then he fails. Nothing will happen..." It's true, failure is not the end of the world, and neither is displeasing someone in order to do what you know is right. Pai knew she had to learn the traditions, and she knew she had to ride the whale. She was the only one who could do it, even though she was a girl. One of the most touching scenes in the film is when Koro realizes that Pai had retrieved the whale tooth, which was supposed to be found by the new chief. The grief in his eyes as he came to terms with the consequences of his stubborn pride is the greatest evidence that Pai's non-conformity had really made a change. When everyone, young and old, is united on the traditional carved boat singing and chanting and living together as a tribe, with pride in who they are and who their ancestors were, it's clear that without Pai's perseverance and brazen non-conformity none of this would have come to pass.
Personally I tend to conform rather than to buck the system. Yet Pai really inspired me. The film was put together so genuinely, with such an air of authenticity, that I really felt as if I were taking something away. As if I didn't just watch the film, but it became a part of me. The more I thought about this and pondered on what it was that had impacted me, I realized that I had a desire to really seek out my own place in the world and to question the motivation behind my choices in order to be true to my own purpose. I can go in so many different directions, but which way is best suited to my destiny? Although I don't see myself climbing on the back of a whale anytime soon, there will certainly be some positive changes in my life in the near future as a result of this film and it's impact on me.
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