Whale Rider
Niki Caro
ANSWERS

Setting:

It is set in the small NZ settlement of Whangara. It is set in the present day, but the director has been careful not to be too specific. In years to come it should still be the present day.

Characters:

Paikea- the young girl is the central character

Koro- her grandfather

Flowers- her grandmother

Porourangi- her father

Uncle Rawiri

Film Questions: Activity One

  1. What does the Taiaha represent? Instrument of war. Tool for fighting.
  1. Why does Paikea think that there is something wrong with her? She keeps making Koro angry.
  1. Flowers statement that Koro “is not the boss of her” also applies to other members of the family. How is this true in the next scene? Her uncle Rawiri teaches Paikea how to use the Taiaha.
  1. What do the words “Ihi” and “Wehi” mean?Power and fear
  1. How does Paikea show her strength against Hemi? She fights and wins with the Taiaha.
  1. Why does Paikea keep defending Koro when he treats her so badly? She respects his beliefs and realises how had it is to be a leader.
  1. Why is Koro so upset about the boys not finding the whale necklace? It is the final testfor a potential leader.
  1. Who does he blame for this failure and why?Paikea because he thinks that she put a curse on the school due to her interference.
  1. Why did the whales respond to Paikea’s calls? Because she is the new leader.
  1. What is the rei puta ?Whale necklace.
  1. Do you think that Koro was going to make it to the concert? Yes, but he got sidetracked by the whales.
  1. Why was Paikea’s whale sent to them? The community was in trouble.
  1. How is it finally confirmed that Paikea is the new leader? She rides the whale.
  1. When does Koro finally realise that hehas been wrong about Paikea? When Flowers hands him the rei puta.
  1. What is significant about the finished waka? A new beginning. Strength of the Maori community.

Activity Two: Scene Analysis

Look closely at the three scenes from The Whale Rider and answer the following questions.

Scene One: Opening Scene

  1. At the beginning of the film we hear Paikea but we can’t see her. What is this film technique called? Voiceover
  1. Look closely at the subtitles. Write in the following sentences about Paikea. (It will be paused for you.)Waiting for a leader. And he came on the back of a whale, the man to lead a new people. Our ancestor Paikea.
  1. Where is slow motion used in the opening scene and why?During the birth when her mother is screaming. It intensifies the painful labour.
  1. What film shot is used when Paikea’s mother calls out the name Paikea? An extreme close up.
  1. What camera angle is used when Porourangi looks down on his wife in the hospital bed? A low angle shot.

Scene Two: Paikea’s speech

  1. What film shot is used during Paikea’s speech? Mid shot
  1. What camera angle is used when Koro approaches the whale? High angle shot to show vulnerability.
  1. Explain what a long shot is and identify one in this scene. A full shot. The scene on the beach as Koro approaches the whale.
  1. How does Paikea show that she is a strong character in this scene?Perseveres with her speech even when she is upset.
  1. What is the significance of using the word Tangaroa in this scene? It isan ocean scene

Scene Three: Paikea riding the whale

  1. Describe the type of music used at the beginning of this scene? Eerie, slow, low bass in the background. Piano music
  1. What camera angle is used when Paikea looks up at the whale? High angle
  1. How does Paikea get the whale to move? Kicks it with her foot.
  1. Why does Paikea look at the sky when she is riding the whale? At the heavens. Thinking about how she wasn’t afraid to die.
  1. What camera shots are used when Koro is handed the rei puta? From a mid shot to close up to show his emotions.

Activity Three- Themes and Motifs (symbols)

Your task is to design a Marae which houses all of theimportant themes and motifs in the movie. How you design this is up to you. Below are some examples of the main themes and motifs in The Whale Rider.

Themes: Leadership, expectations and disappointment, working together, feelings of achievement.

Motifs: the whale, the rope, Koro’s staff, the waka, the bicycle, the rei puta

Teacher notes

Feedback should be given on the symbolism of the motifs.

  1. How Koro talks about the strength of the rope, yet it breaks twice in the film. ( the whale and the tractor).
  2. Koro’s staff- how it is an instrument of authority and power and how it is floating in the water at the end of the film. What does this mean? Perhaps his loss of mana.
  3. The bicycle- disappointment, simple routines broken and abandoned
  4. The waka being unfinished to signify her father’s break with the family. With its completion harmony is restored.
  5. The whale- ancient ancestor who only responds to Paikea.

Feedback on major themes

ie

Leadership is fairly self explanatory as is expectations and disappointment. Feelings of achievement with regard to Rawiri and his Taiaha who then also shows leadership.