Whale Rider (2002)

Synopsis:
In a small New
Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale
Rider. In every generation for more than 1000 years, a male heir born
to the Chief succeeds to the title.

The time is now. The Chief’s eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins –
a boy and a girl. But the boy and his mother die in childbirth. The
surviving girl is named Pai.

Grief-stricken, her father leaves her to be raised by her
grandparents. Koro, her grandfather who is the Chief, refuses to
acknowledge Pai as the inheritor of the tradition and claims she is of
no use to him. But her grandmother, Flowers, sees more than a broken
line, she sees a child in desperate need of love.

And Koro learns to love the child. When Pai’s father,
Porourangi, now a feted international artist, returns home after twelve
years, Koro hopes everything is resolved and Porourangi will to accept
destiny and become his successor.

But Porourangi has no intention of becoming Chief. He has moved
away from his people both physically and emotionally. After a bitter
argument with Koro he leaves, suggesting to Pai that she come with him.
She starts the journey but quickly returns, claiming her grandfather
needs her.

Koro is blinded by prejudice and even Flowers cannot convince
him that Pai is the natural heir. The old Chief is convinced that the
tribe’s misfortunes began at Pai’s birth and calls for his people to
bring their 12-year-old boys to him for training.

He is certain that through a gruelling process of teaching the ancient
chants, tribal lore and warrior techniques, the future leader of their
tribe will be revealed to him.

Meanwhile, deep within the ocean, a massive herd of whales is responding, drawn towards Pai and their twin destinies.

When the whales become stranded on the beach, Koro is sure this
signals an apocalyptic end to his tribe. Until one person prepares to
make the ultimate sacrifice to save the people. The Whale Rider. — ©
Newmarket Capital Group

Trailer: