History Film / WhaleRider

The 2002 film ''Whale Rider'', directed by Creator/NikiCaro, is an adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's 1987 novel ''The Whale Rider'', itself based on the Māori legend of Paikea, or Kahutia Te Rangi, who rode from the ancestral home of Hawaiki to New Zealand's East Coast on the back of a whale.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* OceanAwe: It's about the Maori in New Zealand. The Pacific Ocean is part of their culture, after all.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When Paikea goes to ask Rawiri to teach her the taiaha, he's lounging about on the couch with his girlfriend and [[TheStoner quickly stuffs a tobacco bag out of sight.]]

The 2002 film ''Whale Rider'', directed by Niki Caro, is an adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's 1987 novel ''The Whale Rider'', itself based on the Māori legend of Paikea, or Kahutia Te Rangi, who rode from the ancestral home of Hawaiki to New Zealand's East Coast on the back of a whale.

-->'''Grandmother:''' What do you mean, which one!?

%%* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Koro and Nanny.

%%* ComingOfAgeStory: The film more than the book.

* SceneryPorn: Again, New Zealand. There are many, many shots of the beautiful landscape, and there are ''especially'' long shots of [[OceanAwe the Pacific coastline.]] Becomes SceneryGorn for the last half-hour, when [[TearJerker the pod of whales are beached and dying.]]

* DisappearedDad: Poraurangi leaves New Zealand and travels the world, and his visits are brief and far apart. His surviving child, Pai, is raised by his parents. This is a slight change from the novel, where Pouraurangi was living on the South Island with his new wife but frequently came back to visit the iwi

* DaddyDidntShow: Paikea is heartbroken when her grandfather doesn't show up to hear her speech. That she wrote for him.

* BadassGrandpa: Koro Apirana. Subverted towards the end when [[spoiler:he is unable to save the beached whales]].

* OceanAwe: [[CaptainObvious It's about the Maori in New Zealand.]] The Pacific Ocean is part of their culture, after all.

* SceneryPorn: Again, [[CaptainObvious New Zealand.]] There are many, many shots of the beautiful landscape, and there are ''especially'' long shots of [[OceanAwe the Pacific coastline.]] Becomes SceneryGorn for the last half-hour, when [[TearJerker the pod of whales are beached and dying.]]

%%* NatureSpirit: The whale.
%%* NeverMessWithGranny: Nanny Flowers.

* GrumpyOldMan: Koro Apirana. He has spent the last thirteen years hoping that his oldest son will come back and take up the mantle of chief, but when he realizes Poraurangi has no such plans, Koro's frustration mounts, and treats his family with bitterness.

* DisappearedDad: Poraurangi leaves New Zealand and travels the world, and his visits are brief and far apart. His surviving child, Pai, is raised by his parents.

%%* DemotedToExtra: Rawiri in the film.

* HeirClubForMen: The source of a lot of the story's conflict. In the end [[spoiler: Koro accepts his granddaughter as his heir]].

%%* GrumpyOldMan: Koro Apirana.
%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Koro Apirana.

* [[WellDoneSonGuy Well Done Grandfather Girl]]: Pai for much of the story.

%% ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Koro clearly regrets his poor treatment of Pai when she [[spoiler: almost drowns coaxing the beached whales back into the ocean. At her hospital bed, he proclaims her the true leader of the tribe and begs her forgiveness]].

%%* DeathByChildbirth: Rehua.

* SceneryPorn: There are many, many shots of the beautiful landscape, and there are ''especially'' long shots of [[OceanAwe the Pacific coast.]] Becomes SceneryGorn for the last half-hour, when [[TearJerker the pod of whales are beached and dying.]]

* SceneryPorn: It's New Zealand. There are many, many shots of the beautiful landscape, and ''especially'' the sea. Becomes SceneryGorn for the last half-hour, when [[TearJerker the pod of whales are beached and dying.]]

The 2002 film ''Whale Rider'', directed by Niki Caro, is an adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's 1987 novel ''The Whale Rider'', itself based on the Māori legend of Paikea, or Kahutia Te Rangi, who rode from the ancestral home of Hawaiki to New Zealand's East Coast on the back of a whale. The tribe founded by Paikea has always been led by the previous chief's firstborn son, in a line of descent stretching back to the whale rider himself. However, in the late 20th century, a daughter, Paikea Apirana "Pai", is born, and the death of her mother makes her the only child in the line of succession. The story follows her as she challenges the traditions of her people and struggles for recognition and acceptance.

* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Koro and Nanny.

* ComingOfAgeStory: The film more than the book.
* DeathByChildbirth: Rehua.
* DemotedToExtra: Rawiri in the film.

* GrumpyOldMan: Koro Apirana.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Koro Apirana.
* NatureSpirit: The whale.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Nanny Flowers.

* {{Tsundere}}: Nanny Flowers.