CFF: Whale Rider
PG 101 mins
PG 101 mins
New Zealand, Germany, 2002, 101 mins.
DIRECTOR: Niki Caro
WITH: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu
In this cult coming-of-age classic set on the east coast of New Zealand, 12-year-old Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) dreams of becoming chief of her Māori tribe, tracing her ancestry back to the legendary whale rider, Paikea.
Tradition dictates that the leader must be male, and her grandfather, Koro (Rawiri Paratene), refuses to acknowledge her potential.
As Pai strives to prove herself, she demonstrates that courage, love and determination can challenge even the most deeply held beliefs.
"Fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving." - Roger Ebert
The Cambridge Film Festival is presented by the Cambridge Film Trust, a registered charity with a mission to foster film culture and education for the benefit of the public, in Cambridge, the Eastern region, and throughout the UK.