Category: Movies

“Whale Rider” is an extraordinary and moving film.

Set in New Zealand with an all Maori cast, “Whale Rider” dramatizes the conflict inherent when traditional culture meets modern expectations. The story centers on 11-year old Paikea, or Pai, played by the amazing Keisha Castle-Hughes. Pai’s grandfather Koro is the village chief, the latest in a patrimonial line descending from the first Paikea who, according to legend, rode a whale to the island centuries ago. Pai knows and honors tribal traditions better than any of the boys in her community. Even so, and despite being the next in line, she is unable to convince her grandfather that a girl might be chief.

What the film does remarkably well is pay respect to cultural traditions even as it questions their underlying biases and contradictions; that is, their limitations as well as their values. It does this with humor, insight and love, and on several levels.

As Kenneth Turan wrote in the Los Angeles Times:

“Whale Rider” has been something of a sensation on the international film festival circuit, winning audience awards at such diverse and influential festivals as Sundance, Toronto, Rotterdam and San Francisco. Yet far from over-hyping the project, all those honors turn out not to do justice to this significant and surprising film.

Surprising because audience awards often go to undemanding, preternaturally cheerful ventures. Although it’s a work of great warmth with an overwhelming finale, “Whale Rider”… is also a substantial film of unexpected emotional force. And when at a certain point it seems to slip the bonds of this world and take a leap of faith into an almost mythological dimension, it breathlessly takes us along for that memorable ride.

Stephen Boyd, best known for Messala in “Ben-Hur,” was cast in “Cleopatra.” When Elizabeth Taylor became ill and shooting was delayed, Boyd had to fulfill other commitments. The role of Marc Antony went to Richard Burton.

Bennifer: Why Are We Hoping for A Flop?

In A Viewer’s Companion to ‘Citizen Kane’ Roger Ebert says his favorite speech in Kane is delivered by Mr. Bernstein (Everett Sloane) when he is talking about the magic of memory with the inquiring reporter:

A fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn’t think he’d remember. You take me. One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. She didn’t see me at all, but I’ll bet a month hasn’t gone by since, that I haven’t thought of that girl.

Saw the film Seabiscuit Saturday evening and found it thoroughly enjoyable.

The film is based on the book by Laura Hillebrand that has been a non-fiction bestseller in both hard and soft copies for a couple of years. Seabiscuit was, as one reviewer described him, “an extraordinary animal, genetically endowed with bullet speed, a lion’s heart and a wing-nut personality.” The story is about his heart, and that of the three men who found it — played by Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper and Tobey Maguire. The film takes the time to develop each of the four leading characters and their times, while David McCullough provides voice-over commentary on contemporary history. The racing scenes are enough to get you to the track.

True, it’s just Rocky retold. But as someone once said, there is really only one story; it’s the telling that counts.

For an informative review click here.