"Whale Rider" Retelling Our Stories to Include Heroic Girls

Writing about, "McFarland USA," brought to mind Niki Caro's enchanting film, "Whale Rider." I was delighted for a chance to finally review the film that planted the seed of thought that became Reel Inspiration.  (I started  Reel Inspiration to promote diverse films that inspire, challenge, empower, and create understanding.)

As I mentioned in my previous review, Niki Caro is drawn to projects from cultures unlike her own. As an outsider and a “pakeha” (a New Zealander of European descent), Niki studied the Maori language for a year before approaching the Ngati Konohi tribe about adapting their beloved book, “The Whale Rider” (by Witi Ihimaera) to the screen. Niki was only interested in doing the story if it was in collaboration with their community. When she met with Maori leaders, she spoke in their native tongue about what a privilege it would be to bring their story to the screen. The tribe elders took special care in studying her previous work and blessed it before starting production.

Director Niki Caro

In an interview with Ryan Mottesheard of Indiewire, Niki elaborated, “And I think they felt very satisfied that the film, their film, was in the hands of a filmmaker, somebody who could actually get it up on the screen. Somebody who was absolutely there to serve their story.”

As promised, Niki worked very closely with the community. A Maori adviser was always present during the production. What resulted was a movie that reflected their culture and traditions in a way that they could take pride in.

“Whale Rider,” is a retelling of the Maori legend of their first chief Paikea, the whale rider. Ever since the time when Pai’s (Keisa Castle-Hughes) ancestor Paikea came to Whangara on the back of a whale, the first born son in every generation of her family has become leader of the tribe. Disappointed by his artistic son, Pai’s grandfather Koro (Rawiri Paratene) sets his hopes on Pai’s twin brother to lead the tribe out of the darkness of the modern world. Devastated by her brother’s death in childbirth, Koro blames Pai and wants her sent away. But Koro’s wife (Vicky Haughton) refuses, insisting that he acknowledge his granddaughter. Raised by her grandparents, Pai bonds with her grandfather over the ancient teachings. At thirteen, she excels at reciting the legend and can hear the whale songs of her ancestors calling her. But her grandfather is so invested in the tribe’s patriarchal traditions that he can’t see it.

The signs are all there. While working on their boat, Koro uses the rope that starts the motor as a metaphor for their family legacy. Each thread that makes up the rope is one of their ancestors. “Woven together they make us strong.” When he tries to attach the rope to the motor, it breaks. But Pai fixes it by tying all the pieces together. Excited, she calls out to her grandfather, “Its working! It’s working!” But instead seeing this as a sign of her gifts as a leader, he sees it as a threat to their culture. Instead of encouraging her tenacity, he admonishes her, “I don’t want you doing that again. It’s dangerous.” (This is akin to fathers who “protect” their daughters while encouraging their sons to take risks and grow.)

When it becomes clear that his son will not give him a male heir, Koro tells him to go and take his daughter Pai with him. But while driving up the coast, Pai hears the whales calling her back. She knows she is needed at home. When she returns, she finds that her grandfather has set up a cultural school for boys in hopes of finding the tribe’s next leader. Her wise grandmother honors Pai by having her lead the welcoming song. But Koro insists that she sit in the back because this is for the boys.

When Kora catches Pai defeating a boy with the Taiaha (fighting stick,) she is sent to live with her uncle. Her grandfather blames her for the tribe’s troubles. He claims the problems started when she was born and now she is making it worse by interfering with the boys’ schooling. He trains the boys to be warriors, but that isn’t what the tribe needs. The tribe needs Pai’s gifts to tie them together as a community, to encourage each of them to use their strengths to benefit the whole.

Creating the character of Pai was an act of love by novelist Witi Ihimaera. He wrote, "Whale Rider," in response to his daughter's complaint that the boys were always the heroes. “Whale Rider” is more than an inspiring movie for girls. It shows us that a father can demonstrate strength by empowering his daughter. And, like the threads woven together to form a solid rope, our community is strengthened when we all share our unique gifts.

Movie blessings!
Jana Segal
reelinspiration.blogspot.com

Watch the complete movie, "Whale Rider" on Hulu. 

"McFarland USA" Cultivating a New Kind of American Dream

After watching the trailer for “McFarland USA,” I wasn't in a hurry to see the film since it was so similar to, “Spare Parts,” a movie I had recently reviewed. Until… I discovered that it was directed by Niki Caro, who helmed one of my all-time favorite inspiring films, “Whale Rider.”

I couldn't help wondering how a film so different in style and tone reflected Niki’s vision as a filmmaker. What was the common thread between “Whale Rider,” the re-imagining of a Maori legend about a teenage girl challenging the tribe’s patriarchal traditions and, “McFarland USA,” a seemingly formulaic sports flick about a coach encouraging a group of poor migrant Mexican-American farm workers to become champion runners? 

I settled into my theater seat and sighed as, “McFarland USA,” opened with a familiar plot device. The star football player defies the coach’s authority. Coach White loses it and hurls a cleat at the locker near the teen - only it bounces off and hits the teen in the face. The coach’s weakness is set up very economically to prepare for the inevitable character arc (growth). When the coach and his family drive into the poverty-stricken Mexican-American farming town of McFarland, it is clear that this is his last chance. As his daughter looks out of the window, she thinks they got off at the wrong exit: “Are we in Mexico?” I caught myself rolling my eyes when the Idaho family becomes unhinged by the idea of eating the foreign Mexican food. (Really? Lol. This is America!)

Director Niki Caro 

At school, a fellow teacher tries to recruit Coach White (Kevin Costner) for a community project by delivering the obligatory speech about how these poor farming kids are invisible and live in a state of constant hopelessness (reminiscent of the “they are invisible” speech in, “Spare Parts.”) That hopelessness is symbolized by the prison across the street from the school. I wondered to myself, is there really a prison there or was that yet another contrived plot device?

Around the time the coach first notices a student dashing home, a miracle happens. We are introduced into the world of the migrant farm workers. Immersed in their culture, home life, and community, we (like the coach) start really caring about these kids.

While researching for this review, I read that director Niki Caro had been looking for a project with the same qualities as, “Whale Rider,” when Disney approached her about, “McFarland.” In an interview with Bryan Abrams she recalled, “Here was a story that was true, based in a real community, based on real people, and it offered me a way I could work as I had on,” Whale Rider,” which is to work with the community and with the people. Basically, all I do is light up what I think is beautiful.”

The part that interests this New Zealand-born director is working with communities unlike her own. “The way I work when it’s not my own culture is I try to be very accurate and faithful to the way lives are lived and not impose my will. I was very keen to portray the Mexican-American culture, but I realized that we made a very American movie, a profoundly American movie that happens to have a lot of Mexicans in it.”

The migrant workers in McFarland epitomize the American Dream in their struggle to make a better life for their children. But they create their own version by balancing work, family and community. The opening set-up pays off as Coach White and his kin grow as a family and become a part of the community. The coach joins three of his runners for dinner to explain the advantage of running. But he ends up learning from them. Their mother gives him some enchiladas to take home and a lesson on being a family man. “How are you going to be a family if you don’t eat together?” She points out how her husband works hard for long hours, but is present every night at dinner with his family. Family is a priority.

The original McFarland track team with Kevin Costner 

The team learns something too. As coach and team gain a mutual respect, they also learn to respect themselves. Using the incredible strength it takes to work long hours in the fields, go to school, and then run 8-10 miles a day, they can accomplish anything. Inspired by their determination and heart, we root for them to win while we, in turn, learn the value of hard work.

It is clear in both, "Whale Rider," and, "McFarland USA," that Niki Caro's vision is cultivating community. By casting light on the customs and traditions of each community and its people, Niki cultivates a rich, fertile film experience that grows understanding.

Movie blessings!
Jana Segal
reelinspiration.blogspot.com

Watch, the complete movie, "Whale Rider."