Thursday, April 30, 2009

Award-winning movie Whale Rider presents a drama based on the Maori culture of New Zealand

Whale Rider is a 2002 film directed by Niki Caro, based on the 1987 novel The Whale Rider by New Zealand Māori author Witi Ihimaera. The world premiere was on September 9, 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival, says Wikipedia.

Themes of the movie include
- the struggle of minority cultures to keep traditions alive
- conflict faced by women in a male-dominated culture
- struggle of children whose parents are not participating in their daily lives
- exploration of the culture of Oceania (the south Pacific islands)
- tradition vs. westernized, contemporary culture

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