Whale Rider Assignment

Whale Rider 2002 Film Assignment



1. How is Paikea a female counter-stereotype? Use the "female gaze" theory to describe how the film and the character fit this model of the female perspective and female “voice”.

In the movie Whale Rider, it is part of the culture in this native tribe that only men are to be the leaders or chiefs and has been that way for years. The next born leader would be the grandson of chief Koro, however his son gives birth to a daughter who he names Paikea after the original whale rider.  The chief Koro does not approve of a woman being a leader for the people, and instead seeks a boy outside their family to be the chosen one.

Paikea’s character can be considered a female counter-stereotype because even though her grandfather does not give her the recognition she deserves, she keeps fighting and goes against all odds to prove him wrong. Most female roles in movies are portrayed as weak and emotional, and Paikea could not be more opposite. Even though she is young, she is strong when she never gives up fighting for the same equality her grandfather gives the boys. When she is secretly learning the techniques Koro is teaching the boys, she is strong enough to fight off one of the strongest boys. Also, the boys’ final task is retrieving the tooth necklace and when they all fail, Paikea goes after and finds it. Although Paikea sheds a few tears during her ending speech about her admiration of her grandfather, who didn’t show up, she is constantly beaten down for being a girl but doesn’t let it get to her.

In the Female Gaze article, Hossain states, “As women we need to run free with our desires to come to a place when and where we know who we are and what we desire” (Hossain, 2011). I think this quote is perfect for Paikea’s character and the movie’s tone. This girl knows she was born to be a leader, and against all odds and disapproval from her grandfather, she doesn’t give up to show what her true calling was meant to be.

 2. How is Whale Rider a statement of empowerment for women and girls? How does Paikea challenge gendered expectations?

Whale Rider is a statement of empowerment for women because the movie is about a young girl who stands up to her family and society that despite the odds, she can be a leader. This just goes to show how strong and determined women can be, and should be treated equally to men. At times, I found this movie difficult to watch because I was so angry at the way the grandfather was treating Paikea. I didn’t understand how blind he was that she was clearly a natural born leader and was meant to be the whale rider. It was hard to watch him constantly knock her down, and I was picturing myself in her situation and I just wanted to yell at him for being so irrational! But Paikea never once yelled or spoke back or threw a tantrum. She was quiet and apologetic, which shows her level of maturity and also her determination to prove to them she can do this.

Paikea challenges the gendered expectations numerous times throughout the film when she secretly learns the traditions her grandfather is teaching the boys. She even asks her Uncle to teach her taiaha lessons behind Koro’s back. The biggest gender expectation Paikea challenged was at the end of the movie. The whales have washed up on the beach and while all the locals try and save them and push them back in the water, they fail. When Paikea goes to touch the biggest whale, her grandfather urges her not to, muttering, “You’ve done enough” (Whale Rider, 2002). As if Koro hadn’t made Paikea feel worthless enough, she ignores him and when everyone has left, she returns and climbs on top of the whale and leads it back into the ocean. It shows how strong she is that after everything her grandfather has done to her to make her feel weak and little, she fights back by challenging the gendered expectation and gets on that whale anyway, demonstrating her courage and determination.

3. How is Whale Rider an example of “counter-cinema” and the “female gaze”?

Whale Rider is an example of “counter-cinema” because the way it portrays women is very different than typical Hollywood movies. In their article, ‘Hollywood’, Kord and Krimmer stated, “Hollywood films do not represent the real lives of most women in North America –they fail to represent real issues facing women today (complexities of life, hard-hitting subjects)” (Kord & Krimmer, 2005). This is shown so evidently in this movie because it illustrates the real issues that women face by the way the grandfather treats Paikea. Just because she was born a female, she is automatically unfit to be a leader and this movie shows her struggle to prove everyone, especially her grandfather wrong. I think this movie is a perfect example of the “female gaze theory” because of the fact that it was directed by a female. I’m sure this movie still would have been great if the director were a male, but not the same emotion and inspiration would have been as apparent without the direction of a female who can relate to the significance of the issue.

References:

Hossain, H. (2011). Female directors, female gaze: the search for female subjectivity in film. (5^th ed., Vol. 5).

Kord, S., Krimmer, E. (2005). Hollywood. Hollywood divas, indie queens, & tv heroines. Pp 1-13. Rowman and Littlefiedl Publishers.

Whale Rider. Dir. Niki Caro. Perf. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton. South Pacific Pictures, 2002. DVD.