![movie backdrop](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w1280/ppcLeOwKQLzg7BT1spZhaafuGL5.jpg)
![Whale Rider](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/1ZQSkyEDRJdk6TCAThBojB5hJcK.jpg)
Whale Rider
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.
- Overview
- Cast
- Crew
- Recommendations
Whale Rider
- Overview
- Cast
- Crew
- Recommendations
Status
Released
Release Date
Jan 30, 2003
Runtime
1h 41m
Genres
Drama, Family
User Score
71%
Original Title
Whale Rider
Production Companies
South Pacific Pictures, Pandora Film, ApolloMedia, New Zealand Film Production Fund, New Zealand Film Commission, NZ on Air, Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen
Director
Niki Caro
Budget
$8,000,000
Revenue
$41,400,000
Description
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.
Cast
Crew
Trailer
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