WHALE RIDER
SUMMARY
OPENING: Whale and sea with music for the credits.
Voice over explaining the coming of a new leader cut to birth scene where new leader dies. Close up mother and babys mouth.
Fuzzy focus of bed rail. Over shoulder shot from nurse to father.
Koro 1st question: Where is the boy.
Tells Pourangi that done is done and to start again (priority of leadership above humanity. Never looked at child (lack of
sensitivity). No reaction to child.
Rawiri as child not good for him. Voice over
to explain. Bicycle motif way for Koro to be close to P without showing love.
Shape of island same as whale. Establishing shots
show sea, houses, hills
Humour smoking jokes
1st shot: whale meeting house. Paikea
sings it (whale) see visual representation.
Koro shows authority at concert practice.
Rawiri no leader became fat and slothful
Mother leader behind the scenes and knows her
husband.
Koro doesnt read postcards (stubborn)
Voice over Waka Pourangi didnt carve after his
wifes death. Left area after confrontation with father waka a symbol of what Koro wanted him to be doing.
Outboard motor scene Koro doesnt answer questions
then shows insight and depth when retelling (possibly lack of communication skills but can relate the old tales insight into
his interpersonal relationship skills). Rope symbolic of ancestors all joined and intertwined for strength (metaphor repeated
at end when all row the waka together strength in unity). Rope breaks symbolic break in leadership. Paikea fixes it could
rePaikear line of leadership if allowed but Koro wont accept a girl fixing things (knowing better than an elder/leader) also
not rePaikearing leadership.
Koro priviledges and obligations no use to me
(priorities, cruel would someone like this make a good leader??)
Blanket motif safety, security,
Paikea sees good in Koro He didnt mean it about
me
Koro looking for something that doesnt exist.
Needs a prophet, someone who will lead people out of the darkness and make everything all right.
Paikea like my brother/
Koro made himself believe your brother was the
leader
Hard on those who cant be what he wants.
Over shoulder shot.
26 Last ride on bike shows Koros softer side
although later When she was born thats when things went wrong thats where we will find the answer
30 Music long shots/close ups in car hit the
road type music fades into the sea music (one can expect to see whales) whales appear can Paikea see them?? Paikea looks far
out to sea
Paikea, Im back Koro shows no pleasure at all
as he has another mission now.
Hemi who Koro thinks will be the future leader,
is smoking and wants to leave the area. Koro doesnt collect Paikea shows selfishness
Mother refuses to start without Paikea shows
strength of women on the marae Paikea leads the boys in as a leader already.
Koro kicks Paikea off the marae showing Elder
role
Can relate to boys dick joke
View from whale watching??
40 Koro lacks manners wont apologise and throws
things on the floor (ill mannered tyrant way for leader to behave??)
Flowers is boss of the kitchen (behind every
great man.)
Sea music then whales (whales are getting closer
are the watching and waiting??)
Blanket comfort. Flowers, Let him think he is
the boss
Flowers he was beautiful but he was the 2nd
son Rules he has to live by. Let him think he is boss but not of me
Taiaha trophy joke
Rawiri Does Koro know? Then lets get on, eh
Wide shot with Rawiri in the middle
Rawiri training on beach why feeling better about
himself??
Rawiri and Paikea training / cut to Koro traditional
training contrasting new and old ways, formal and informal.
Overshoulder makes audience part of the scene
seeing from 2 sides
Ancestors watching too see carving.
Contrast ancestors with Cuzzie Bros ie Hemis
dad.
Music rap/ contrast to traditional
Other themes best intentions dont always work,
new and old ways want same things but are poles apart.
54 Boat scene Koro dramatic and expecting too
much.
Music sea music when in water and water sounds
above ie splashing gives contrast.
Slow motion in water and whales always in slow
motion- makes timeless like the history and story (set some time no dates)
Bone lost only music no outboard motor noise
(silenced).
Koro in own time warp. Koro obsessive?? Belief
shattered when dont find the bone necklace. Seaweed slow which emphasizes the timelessness. Music carries on into home- becomes
dirgy reflecting Koros mood. broken by the sound of the door lock silence no sound effects.
58 Rug being carried taking Flowers love and
protection with her could be the equivalent of a Maori cloak.
59 voice over to explain talking to the Ancient
Ones.
Whale on meeting house / cut to island which
is whale-shaped.
Birds eye view of people in boat. Voice over
in water no music. Koro in depths of despair visual metaphor with water. Rawiri dives in starting to take responsibility.
View from water up to boat down to Paikea brings audience there. Music with bone.
104 half open door . Arial shot Koro in total
despair (as leader he is not leading but defeated).
Teacups establishing shot. Concert eye level
with audience puts the viewer there.
107 Eerie music and concert music contrast
looking up at Paikea giving speech from audiences
point of view.
Surf sound, footsteps. Arial view/ close ups.
Longshots to show whales in distance
Paikeas speech Lots of leaders. If knowledge
given to everyone then have lots of leaders and soon everyone will be strong and not only those chosen
Overshoulder to audience brings viewer into hall
113 Menacing music turns sad and melancholic.
Action shots, whale/water/ people. Close up to Paikeas eye (like whale eye?) can she see something? Voice over Paikeas thoughts.
115 Rawiri leadership (everyone has it in them
but sometimes takes a special event to bring it out to give confidence) give comfort meaningful look to waka (symbol of the
Anicent Ones and is unfinished being unfinished symbolizes the state of the Iwi without a leader)
Koro given up role
Voice over to explain in depth
Koro They will do it for you meaning Rawiri
Leave it, youve done enough- Koro is belligerent
Water level shots
Breaking rope symbolic of the broken strands
of leadership later shows the broken end floating away although they are all pulling together there isnt strong leadership
to give them the strength required.
Paikea He wanted to die, no reason for him to
live meaning whale or Koro or both??
Floating rope
Crowd scenes shot to be part of the throng
Travel with Paikea on the whale contrast peace
and calm sea with chaos and noise above
Boys showing what they have learnt
Koro Which one?? refusing to believe who found
the bone stubborn to the end! Sea music
128 over shoulder
Koro accepts he should ask forgiveness redemption?
Music shot to whales old and young symbolic of Paikea and Koro eventually the young will take over from the old natural order
White out to clouds (motif?? Reoccurred throughout
film)
Waka and sea music
Arial shot
All is a visual metaphor all work together power
good leader makes people work together - all in one boat so have to pull together!
Koro cuddling Paikea
Repeat of My name is (repeated throughout film
gives unity and reinforces the concept.
Not a prophet but I know our people will keep
on going forward together with all our strength
